HC Deb 19 January 1995 vol 252 cc677-8W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths occurred in Doncaster prison in 1994; and how many were suicides.

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. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster prison. Since it opened on 20 June 1994, two prisoners have died in the prison. Of these one death (that of Ian Buck) has been officially recorded as a suicide. The other (that of Shaun Webster) has still to be determined by an inquest jury.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of each suicide at Doncaster prison in 1994, what was(a) the time the suicide occurred, (b) the prison wing, (c) the number of prisoners on that wing and (d) the number of staff on that wing.

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. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster prison. The only official verdict of suicide at Doncaster has been that of Ian Buck. He was discovered in his cell at 8.02am on 16 September on Unit B of houseblock 2. The number of prisoners unlocked on the unit that morning was 44 and there were 11 staff on duty.

Mr. Gunnell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of staff and number of inmates at Doncaster prison, including those on home leave, on 1 January 1995; how many deaths of inmates held in the prison have taken place since 20 June 1994; and how many prisoners have required immediate hospital admission since 20 June 1994.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

[holding answer 10 January 1995]: 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 19 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster prison. There were 410 full time and 34 part time staff employed at Doncaster on I January 1995. The total inmate population at midnight on 1 January was 723. There were no prisoners on home leave at that time. Two inmates have died within the prison and one has died in St James' hospital, Leeds. Since 20 January 1994, twelve prisoners have required immediate hospital admission needing an overnight stay. The reasons for admission include acts of deliberate self-harm, drug-related incidents and assaults by other prisoners, as well as sudden illness.