§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November, 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.The attached table records the information requested for the year 1990 to November 1st 1994.
for the purpose of the inquest to anyone who is a "Properly interested person" under the Coroners' Rules.However reports of follow-up internal investigations, including statements taken by the investigating Governor, are not disclosed. It is necessary that the Prison Service should be able to conduct its own review of the case in confidence. The Coroner is at liberty to take statements separately for the purpose of the inquest and any requests for disclosure of such statements would be for him or her to consider. There are no plans to change this policy.A similar policy applies in relation to deaths of persons in the custody of the Prison Service detained under the Immigration Act.