HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 cc627-8W
Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to meet the special needs of older people in prison. [17519]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 29 February 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what action is being taken to meet the special needs of older people in prison. The Prison Service has recognised the needs of the older prisoner. A special unit is at present being commissioned at HMP Kingston. An existing accommodation block is being refurbished and will include specialist facilities for older prisoners with disabilities. The unit is for 25 prisoners and hopes to receive its first prisoners in May 1996. The Directorate of Health Care is currently compiling a health strategy for prisoners and staff and has particularly identified the needs of older prisoners amongst its topics. The health strategy will be presented to the Prisons Board in May 1996.

Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women aged over 60 and men over 65 years are being held in prison on(a) remand and (b) after sentence. [17594]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from, A. J. Pearson to Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 29 February 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking, how many women aged over 60 and men over 65 years are being held in prison on (a) remand and (b) after sentence. On 31 January 1996 there were 16 women aged 60 or over (3 on remand and 13 sentenced) and 300 males (25 remand and 275 sentenced) aged 65 and over in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.