§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what measures have been taken by his Department to implement the recommendations of the joint Home Office-Department of Health and Social Security working group of officials chaired by the director of prison medical services on the problems presented by mentally disordered offenders in the prison system in England and Wales;
655W(2) what steps have been taken to implement the recommendation in the report of the director of prison medical services on the problems presented by mentally disordered offenders in the prison system in England and Wales that further encouragement should be given to regional health authorities to develop a comprehensive network of provisions to meet mental health care needs in their regions.
§ Mr. NewtonThe report has been sent to regional general managers, asking them to bring it to the attention of those in charge of their regions' strategies for mental health. The report was also circulated to the royal colleges and other professional organisations.
Whenever the opportunity arises, regional health authorities are reminded of the need to provide the comprehensive mental health service referred to in the report, including provision for both those chronically mentally ill people and those mentally handicapped people who may need longer-term secure facilities as described in the then Minister's letter of October 1986 to regional chairmen. This comprehensive service is also a topic which features often in the regional reviews held annually between Ministers and regional health authorities.
The recommendations in the report aimed at increasing the extent to which mentally disordered offenders are detained other than in prison custody are being taken forward in discussion between Home Office and DHSS officials.