HC Deb 16 January 1995 vol 252 cc334-5W
Mr. Gunnell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what dates since 20 June 1994 he has received reports on the management of Doncaster prison by Premier Prison Services;

(2) how many of those prisoners requiring immediate transfer from Doncaster prison in the period 20 June to 1 November 1994, (a) had self-inflicted injuries and (b) had injuries received as a result of assault from other prisoners;

(3) on what dates inquests were held into those prisoners who died when held in Doncaster prison; with what result; and when he expects the inquest into Lee Bowen's death to take place;

(4) how many prisoners at Doncaster prison were, as of 1 November, on rule 43;

(5) how many and what percentage of the prisoners at Doncaster prison on 1 November (a) had served a previous sentence in prison before their present sentence, (b) were on remand, (c) were living in south Yorkshire at the time of their arrest and (d) were living in west Yorkshire at the time of their arrest.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility 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 Mr. John Gunnell, dated 16 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Doncaster prison. Reports on Doncaster are submitted each month by the on-site Controller, who is a senior governor grade, to the area manager. He, in turn, discusses these reports with the Operational Director at their monthly meetings. Of those prisoners transferred to outside hospital between 20 June and 1 November, all returned to prison the same day. Seven were transferred as a result of self-inflicted injuries and four as a result of assaults by other prisoners. Five prisoners attended hospital in October and eight in November. The inquest into the death of Ian Buck took place on 1 December, when the jury returned a verdict of suicide. The inquest into the death of Shaun Webster is expected to be heard this month. It is not yet known when the inquest into the death of Lee Bowen, who died in outside hospital, will be heard. On 1 November there were three prisoners segregated under rule 43 for reasons of general order and discipline. None was segregated under rule 43 for protection from other inmates. On November 728 prisoners, or 98 per cent. of the population, had served a previous sentence before their present one. 367, or 50 per cent. of prisoners, were on remand. 346, or 46 per cent. of prisoners, were living in South Yorkshire at the time of their arrest; and 164, or 22 per cent. of prisoners were living in West Yorkshire at the time of their arrest.