§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy about the treatment of mentally ill prisoners in prisons and remand homes; and how many transfers to (a) Broadmoor, Rampton and Moss Side, and (b) other psychiatric hospitals, have taken place in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. JohnTreatment by psychiatrically qualified medical staff is available for all inmates in need of such treatment in penal establishments, including those awaiting the allocation of outside hospital beds in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1959. The following table shows the number of cases during the last three years in which directions were given under Sections 72 and 73 of the Mental Health Act 1959 for the transfer to psychiatric hospitals of inmates found to be suffering from mental disorder:
1974 1975 1976 Transfers under Section 72 of the Act (sentenced inmates) To Broadmoor Hospital 5 9 4 To Rampton Hospital 13 9 9 To Moss Side Hospital — 3 2 To other hospitals 26 23 27 Transfers under Section 73 of the Act (other inmates) To Broadmoor Hospital 2 2 2 To Rampton Hospital — 1 1 To Moss Side Hospital — 1 1 To other hospitals 10 10 11
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were, at the latest convenient date, in prison or remand home hospitals; and what proportion this figure represents of the total prison and remand home population.
§ Mr. JohnOn 9th January 1977, the latest date for which figures are available, some 1,016 prisoners, about 2.5 per cent. of the total prison population—were located in hospital accommodation within Prison Service establishments.