HC Deb 16 March 1990 vol 169 c396W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the practice of obtaining psychiatric reports on prisoners held on remand.

Mr. Mellor

A court requiring medical advice on a defendant's mental condition may remand that person to prison for a report. The Government encourage the use of other means of obtaining such reports including bail or remand to hospital where custody is not necessary in the public interest.