HC Deb 12 March 1987 vol 112 cc296-7W
Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prisoners have been transferred to the four special hospitals under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the last four years for which records are available, broken down by special hospital.

Mrs. Currie

The number of admissions to special hospitals under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (or under section 72 — the equivalent section of the Mental Health Act 1959) during the four years 1983 to 1986 was as follows:

1983 1984 1985 1986
Broadmoor 11 5 16 16
Rampton 7 15 15 8
Moss Side 5 3 3 9
Park Lane 6 10 22 14
TOTALS 29 33 56 47

The figures include some patients who were transferred from prison to a National Health Service hospital in the first instance who subsequently were admitted to a special hospital. The figures will also include a small number of patients who have had more than one admission to special hospital from prison.

Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ethnic origin of those prisoners transferred to special hospitals under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the last four years for which figures are available, broken down by special hospital.

Mrs. Currie

Details of the ethnic origin of prisoners transferred to special hospitals under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (or section 72—the equivalent section of the Mental Health Act 1959) are available as follows:

Broadmoor Ramplon Moss Side Park Lane
1984
Caucasian 3 10 3 10
Negro 2 4
Asian 1
5 15 3 10

Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of their sentences those prisoners transferred under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the last four years for which figures are available had to serve when they were transferred.

Mrs. Currie

The information is not readily available from either Department of Health and Social Security or Home Office records.

Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any ethnic monitoring is carried out in special hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

No ethnic monitoring is carried out in the special hospitals, although information on ethnic origin has been recorded for patients admitted to special hospitals since 1972 in compiling a psychiatric case register for research purposes.

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