HC Deb 21 June 1979 vol 968 cc628-9W
Miss Wright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals, currently imprisoned, were recommended for psychiatric treatment at the time of imprisonment; how many are receiving such treatment; and whether he is satisfied with the facilities available in Her Majesty's prisons for such treatment.

Mr. Brittan

The information requested is not recorded centrally and is not readily available. The prison service does not have suitable facilities or staff for the proper care and treatment, other than as a temporary measure, of offenders who are suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree warranting their detention in hospital for medical treatment under the Mental Health Act 1959: to the extent that such offenders are imprisoned because an appropriate hospital place is not available, the position is unsatisfactory, although staff provide the best care they can. The prison service also provides a considerable range of psychiatric treatment for inmates who are mentally disordered to a lesser degree, although a number of improvements are desirable: for example, it has proved difficult to recruit enough doctors to the prison medical service, which remains under strength.