HC Deb 15 June 1994 vol 244 cc609-11W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in which prisons alcohol abuse and misuse programmes are available to prisoners; how many prisoners(a) commenced and (b) completed the programme in each prison in 1991, 1992, 1993 and so far this year; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 14 June 1994]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman Godman dated 15 June 1994: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about alcohol abuse and misuse programmes within Scottish penal establishments, including the number of prisoners commencing and completing available programmes during 1991, 1992, 1993 and so far in 1994. The table in the Annex shows the information available. Figures for Barlinnie are not presently collated and I will write again when the figures are available. In 1991, the Scottish Prison Service, in consultation with the Scottish Council on Alcohol, introduced the "Ending Offending" education package. This package was aimed primarily at helping prisoners in the 16 to 30 age group with alcohol related problems address their drinking and offending behaviour. In addition, Alcoholics Anonymous attend most establishments and hold weekly meetings.

Establishment and alcohol programme run by 1991 Number completed1 1992 Number completed1 1993 Number completed1 1994 To date number completed
Noranside
Alcoholics anonymous, Tayside council on alcohol, prison education unit 4 14 19 21
Penninghame
Prison education unit, prison social work, alcoholics anonymous, al-teen 2— 2— 54 12
Perth
Tayside council on alcohol, alcoholics anonymous, prison social work unit 13 21 12 32
Peterhead
Prison education unit, alcoholics anonymous 26 46 80 40
Polmont
Prison social work unit, Scottish council on alcohol 65 63 42 16
Shotts
Alcoholics anonymous 4 4— 4— 4—
Shotts unit
Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Total 571 680 952 516
1 The numbers quoted show the total number of prisoners who completed alcohol programmes. The number of prisoners who commenced but did not complete the programmes is not available.
2 No figures available.
3 Figures to follow.
4 30 Prisoners attend per week.

The figures do not include the prisoners who receive individual counselling from prison based social workers or community based addiction counsellors.