§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the penal institutions in which psychotropic drugs are in use; wherever possible, if he will state the dates from which such psychotropic drugs have been in use in penal institutions; and what was the purpose of administration of psychotropic drugs in prisons.
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§ Mr. BrittanIn the quarter ending 31 March 1979, psychotropic drugs were prescribed at all prison service establishments except Thorpe Arch remand centre, Deerbolt, Guys Marsh, Hatfield, Hewell Grange, Prescoed and Stoke Heath borstals and Campsfield House, Foston Hall, North Sea Camp, Usk, Werrington House and Whatton detention centres. Psycho-tropic drugs have been in use in the National Health Service and the prison medical service for many years. They are prescribed for inmates when, in the clinical judgment of a registered medical practitioner, this is an appropriate form of medical treatment.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been conducted into the effects and side-effects of psychotropic drugs in prisons; and if he will identify the penal institution or research establishment, the initial cost of each such study and the annual cost of such studies for the most convenient period and the number of persons involved in any such studies, stating whether such were civilian volunteers, or inmates in prisons and other penal institutions.
§ Mr. BrittanThis information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the justification for using psychotropic drugs in prisons and other penal institutions in the absence of research on their effects.
§ Mr. BrittanThe effects of most psychotropic drugs in general use are known and well-documented in the appropriate medical literature. They are widely used in the National Health Service.