HC Deb 31 March 1983 vol 40 cc267-8W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the locations of the therapeutic units in penal establishments for drug dependants; and how many prisoners were using each one in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Mellor

The treatment of drug dependants in prison department establishments is a matter for the clinical discretion of the responsible medical officer. The patient may be treated by the medical officer or referred to a visiting specialist or to more specialised facilities in the prison system. There are no units in the prison system which provide only for drug dependants but there are units at Bullwood Hall, Holloway and Wormwood Scrubs which offer group therapy to prisoners with various problems including drug dependence who may benefit from this approach.

Information about the occupancy of these units is not available in the form requested. However, House 5 at Bullwood Hall can accommodate up to 12 trainees and on 29 March 1983 the population was 9; the A5 unit at Holloway is operating on a temporarily reduced basis because of accommodation pressures and can only accept 6 prisoners who have been selected as suitable for group therapy but its population will shortly increase when more accommodation becomes available; the hospital annexe at Wormwood Scrubs can accommodate up to 44 prisoners and on 29 March 1983 the population was 44. A number of other establishments including Feltham and Grendon also offer group therapy to inmates including drug dependants.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase and improve the service in penal establishments of drug dependants.

Mr. Mellor

The nature and extent of facilities in prison department establishments for the treatment of drug dependants are determined in the light of needs identified by medical officers. We have no present plans to establish any further specialised units but any reasonable request by a medical officer for additional facilities would be sympathetically considered.