§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of. State for the Home Department if he will list for each prison establishment the current numbers of whole-time equivalent (a) psychiatrists, (b) other physicians, (c) surgeons, (d) trained nursing staff and (e) trained paramedical staff, relating these figures to the total number of prisoners and the proportion known to be in need of psychiatric treatment and nursing.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesInformation about staff is not readily available in the form requested, and I shall be writing to the hon. Member. Some information about the health of prisoners is contained in chapter 13 (health & medical services) and appendix 3 (population figures) of the Prison Department annual report for 1977. The demand for medical services cannot, however, be related directly to the average population of establishments, which varies according to the role of the establishment and the nature of the population.