§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions and in which women's prisons protected rooms, padded cells, have been used since 1975.
§ Mr. HurdThe only information which is readily available and can be produced without disproportionate cost relates to 1981 and 1982. This is set out in table 10.6 of Prison Statistics 1982 (Cmnd. 9027) and shows that no females were restrained on medical grounds in 1981 and 1982. As explained on page 145 of Prison Statistics 1982, the figures for earlier years have been found to be unreliable. Steps are being taken to improve the recording arrangements for future years.