HC Deb 19 January 1993 vol 217 cc137-8W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons currently residing in prisons in England and Wales are considered to have mental health problems.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, the psychiatric profile study of the sentenced population carried out by Professor John Gunn and published in October 1992 estimated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders as 38.8 per cent. of which substance dependency or abuse accounted for 19.6 per cent.

Of these, 15 male prisoners and two female prisoners have submitted requests for permanent or extended temporary transfer which are under consideration. Two male prisoners have requested permanent transfers only.

Statistics on the political background of prisoners seeking transfers to Northern Ireland are not kept.

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