HC Deb 07 November 1988 vol 140 cc12-3W
Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides occurred in prisons in England and Wales in(a) the remand population and (b) the sentenced population during 1988.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Verdicts of suicide have been returned on 17 inmates who died in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales during 1988. Of these inmates, 11 were on remand and six had been sentenced. Inquests have yet to be held on 14 other inmates (of whom seven were on remand and seven were sentenced) who died in Prison Department custody during this period and whose deaths are thought to have been suicide.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides occurred in prisons in England and Wales in(a) the remand population and (b) the sentenced population during 1988.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have received reports of 424 apparent suicide attempts made by inmates in Prison Department custody in England and Wales during 1988. Information on whether these inmates were on remand or sentenced is not held centrally.