§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) whether they will provide the names of the prisoners who were in cells on either side of Mr. Terence Patrick Smerdon when he died in Wands worth Prison on 26th January 1982 to representatives of his family, and grant facilities to those representatives to interview those prisoners in connection with the death; and
(ii) what quantities of valium, largactil and chlorpromazine were administered to Mr. Terence Patrick Smerdon on each of the seven days before he died, and on the day of his death respectively; and in the latter case, what were the times at which he was given each dose.
§ Lord EltonIt is for the prisoners concerned to decide if they wish their identity and whereabouts to be disclosed and to be interviewed. We would be prepared to forward letters from Mr. Smerdon's family's legal advisers to the two prisoners who were in the cells near Mr. Smerdon when he died. One of these prisoners is, however, at present awaiting sentence and it is not therefore known how long he will be in custody.
Mr. Smerdon was given a 150 mg dose of chlorpromazine three times on each of the seven days 440WA before he died except 25th January when he declined this medication. Largactil is another name for chlorpromazine and Mr. Smerdon did not receive any valium on these days. The only other medication Mr. Smerdon received during this period was a 2g dose of chloral each night. On the day he died Mr. Smerdon received 150 mg of chlorpromazine at approximately 0700 hours, 1100 hours and 1600 hours.