§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15-year-olds categorised as a suicide risk were placed in a strip cell(a) 1992 and (b) 1993 to date;
(2) how many 15-year-old inmates were categorised as a suicide risk in (a) 1992 and (b) 1993 to the latest available date;
(3) how many reported instances of self-injury there were in prisons and young offender institutions involving 15-year-olds (a) remanded into custody and (b) sentenced to custody in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1993 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answers 19 October 1993]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 28 October 1993:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about 15 year olds in prison custody who have self injured, been categorised as a suicide risk or placed in strip cells.The number of incidents of self injury by 15 year olds in Prison Service custody in 1992 and 1993 is as follows:
1992 11993 Remand 1 2 Sentenced 19 32 TOTAL 20 34 1 To 30 September.
There has been no self-inflicted death by a 15 year old prisoner in 1992 or 1993.Information about the number of 15 year old prisoners who have been categorised as a suicide risk, and about the number of such prisoners placed in unfurnished or protective accommodation, is not available.