HL Deb 18 December 1980 vol 415 c1277WA
Baroness Wootton of Abinger

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many offenders diagnosed as suffering from mental disorder, as defined by the Mental Health Act 1959, were sentenced to immediate imprisonment in 1975 and 1978.

Lord Belstead

Information is not available in this form, but since 1977 prison medical officers have made returns of the number of prisoners in their care whom they consider to be suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which would justify transfer to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1959. The returns for 30th June and 31st December 1978 identified 377 and 389 sentenced mentally disordered prisoners.