§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will order an inquiry into the escape of Joseph Cooper on 30th November from Ramp-ton Special Hospital, Nottinghamshire.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy right hon. Friend has received a full report from the Medical Superintendent which he is considering.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) to what extent security precautions at Rampton Hospital have increased since two nurses were attacked some weeks ago and since the last patient escaped a year ago;
(2) if he is satisfied with the security at Rampton Special Hospital; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsWe are in general satisfied with the security arrangements and the alertness and efficiency of the hospital staff, which were referred to by the Estimates Committee in their consideration of this subject earlier this year. The general principles which need to be borne 563W in mind are set out in the preliminary report of the Working Party on Security in the Special Hospitals printed on pages 15–20 of the Second Report of the Estimates Committee (Session 1967–68) House of Commons Paper 31-vii. The Working Party has since reviewed in detail the security arrangements at Ramp-ton and as a result certain measures to improve security are in hand.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the procedure for warning villages surrounding Rampton Hospital in the event of a patient escaping.
§ Mr. EnnalsWarning is given by siren.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to relieve overcrowding at Ramp-ton Special Hospital since the report of the Estimates Committee into the administration of all three special hospitals at Rampton, Broadmoor and Moss Side.
§ Mr. EnnalsThere is no overcrowding at Rampton Hospital.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the trend in the number of escapes from Rampton Special Hospital in the last 12 years.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe figures for each of the last 12 years are:
Total 1957 … … … 14 1958 … … … 10 1959 … … … 6 1960 … … … 2 1961 … … … 4 1962 … … … 2 1963 … … … 4 1964 … … … 2 1965 … … … 1 1966 … … … 2 1967 … … … 1 1968 … … … 1