§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have committed suicide while serving prison sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1970; what were their names; what was the crime they had committed; at which prison they were imprisoned; how they committed suicide; how long their sentence was; and how much of their sentence they had served.
§ Mr. RifkindThe information requested is below, except for the prisoners' names. It is not my right hon. Friend's policy to disclose the names of prisoners in these circumstances.
579W
580W
Year Number Offence Prison Method Sentence Period served 1970 … 1 Fraud, theft, contravention of Road Traffic Act 1960 Perth Self-strangulation … 15 months plus 3 months consecutive 11 months 1971 … 1 Theft Barlinnie Self-strangulation … 6 months 2 days 1972 … Nil 1973 … 1 Murder Perth Inhalation of glue solvent … Life 3 years 5 months 1974 … Nil 1975 … Nil 1976 … 3 1. Theft Barlinnie Self-strangulation … 6 months 4 days 2. Murder Peterhead Self-strangulation … Life 6 months 3. Assault and robbery Perth Self-strangulation … 2 years 7 months 1977 … 4 1. Assault Perth Self-asphyxiation … 2 years 16 months 2. Manslaughter Barlinnie SpecialUnit Drug overdose … Life 13 years 3. Attempted theft Barlinnie Inhalation of carbon tetrachloride … 12 months 4 months 4. Theft Low Moss Self-strangulation … 3 months 2 months 1978 … 2 1. Breach of peace, wilful and malicious mischief, fireraising Barlinnie Jumping from an upper gallery … 15 months 2 months 2. Contravention of Road Traffic Act 1972, attempting to pervert the course of justice, theft Barlinnie Self-strangulation … 4 years 7 months 1979 … Nil