HC Deb 17 March 1988 vol 129 cc661-2W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons syringes have been discovered in the last year; what was the number for each prison; how many were discovered to contain the AIDS virus; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

During 1987, finds of syringes were reported in the following 13 establishments:

Number
HMP Bedford 3
HMP Bristol 1
HMYCC Castington 1
HMP and YCC East Sutton Park 1
HMP and YCC Exeter 1
HMP Holloway 1
HMP Liverpool 2
HMP Manchester 5
HMP Preston 2
HMP Reading 2
HMP Shepton Mallet 4
HMYCC Thorn Cross 1
HMP Wandsworth 3
TOTAL 27

In addition, seven syringes were found in a visitor's bag at Brixton. It is not normally the practice to have such items tested for HIV antibody.