HC Deb 14 February 1992 vol 203 cc667-8W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-olds remanded into prison in each year since 1981 were subsequently found not guilty.

Mrs. Rumbold

The readily available information is given in the table. Data for 1991 are not yet available.

Persons aged 15 on initial reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales who were not found guilty1: by year of initial remand and sex
Male Female
1981 3
1982 7
1983 11
1984 6
1985 8
1986 14
1987 20
1988 17
1989 15 1
1990 3

1 Charge withdrawn or dismissed, no evidence offered on prisoner acquitted or not tried. Separate figures are not available. The data are under recorded to some extent.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-old prisoners were put into strip conditions either as suicide prevention or as a punishment in 1990 and in 1991; and in which prisons.

Mrs. Rumbold

An inmate who is violent or refractory may be termporarily confined in a special cell or an unfurnished cell if this is necessary to prevent him from injuring himself or others, damaging property or creating, a serious disturbance. No inmates may be placed in such accommodation as a punishment.

In 1990, six prisoners aged 15 were confined in special cells; none was for the prevention of suicide. Information on the use of unfurnished cells was not collected centrally. Data for 1991 are not yet available.

An inmate may be deprived of his clothing only if this essential to prevent him from injuring himself of others. In such cases, the inmate must be provided with a suit of protective clothing so that he can be decently dressed. No information on prisoners deprived of their clothing in this way is collected centrally.