§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison department establishments are unable to implement procedures in section C of the circular instruction 3/1987 on suicide prevention and have been authorised to make alternative arrangements; and if he will name these establishments.
§ Mr. HurdUntil 11 May a standing authorisation was in force for any establishment unable to comply in full with the screening procedures set out in section C of circular instruction 3/1987 to take alternative measures to identify inmates at risk of suicide. The number of establishments concerned varied over time. These arrangements, together with circular instruction 3/1987 itself, have now been superseded by the new procedures for the prevention of inmate suicides which I announced on 11 May at column539, with which all establishments are expected to comply.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in light of recent suicides by women in Risley, what steps he intends to take to improve the conditions and care for women in the Risley remand centre.
§ Mr. HurdHer Majesty's chief inspector of prisons found the conditions and the standard of care in the women's wing at Risley satisfactory, and considered the wing to be a credit to all its staff. I have no reasons to believe that shortcomings in conditions or care were the cause of the two recent cases of apparent suicide in that wing.