§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have spent more than a total of one month in solitary confinement in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is the extra cost per prisoner per month of solitary confinement.
§ 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 Mr. David Nicholson, dated 23 January 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners have spent more than a total of one month in solitary confinement in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is the extra cost per prisoner per month of solitary confinement.No prisoners in England and Wales are kept in solitary confinement, which is a form of punishment designed to deprive a prisoner of all human contact.Under Prison Rule 43, however, and Young Offender Institution Rule 46, governors may remove prisoners from association with other prisoners for the maintenance of good order and discipline or in their own interests. Information is not available in the form requested, but on 30 June 1994 the number of prisoners segregated under Prison Rule 43 and Y01 Rule 46 were:
30 June 1994 Good order and discipline: 310, of which 152 for a period of more than one month; In own interests: 887 held in rule 43 units or segregation unit on rule 43/46. Information on the cost of holding prisoners under these Rules is not available.