§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are presently detained in each special secure unit, stating(a) the nature of crimes for which the prisoner was convicted, (b) the national origin or citizenship of the prisoner, (c) their special category status, (d) how long the prisoner has been housed in an SSU and (e) how many three-monthly medical examinations have been conducted in that time. [56337]
§ Mr. George HowarthOn 29 October 1998, five prisoners were held in Special Secure Units (SSUs), four at Whitemoor and one at Belmarsh. Only prisoners categorised as Category A-Exceptional Escape Risk are held in SSUs.
The table gives the information requested including the number of three monthly medical reviews conducted. These reviews are part of the operating standards for SSUs and are provided in addition to the normal health care facilities available to every prisoner. Formal medical reviews were phased in during 1997.
category A exceptional escape risk prisoners held in special secure units Nationality Offence Time spent in SSU Number of three monthly health reviews American Murder 3 years 5 months 5 British Drugs offences 7 months 2 Colombian Drugs offences 1 year 3 months 4 Turkish Drugs offences 5 years 4 months 5 Turkish Drugs offences 3 months 1