§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many self-inflicted deaths have occurred in Scottish prisons in 1996 at the latest date for which figures are available by(a) age, (b) sex and (c) prison establishment; [21015]
(2) if he will make it his policy to collate figures on incidents of self-harm in Scottish prisons. [21016]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe subject of the questions relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Michael Connarty, dated 19 March 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your questions relating to the number of self-inflicted deaths in Scottish prisons in 1996 and whether figures on incidents of self harm will be collated as a matter of policy.
There have been three deaths in custody in 1996 to date. The table below gives the information by age, sex and prison, as you requested. The cause of death in each case is subject to the findings of Fatal Accident Inquiries.
Age Sex Prison 54 Male Edinburgh1 37 Male Edinburgh 20 Male Greenock 1A Fatal Accident Inquiry into this death is due to be held on 20 March 1996. When you raised with me last year the question of maintaining statistics on incidents of self harm, I indicated that I would need to be sure it was a practical and useful proposition and that I would 165W give it further thought. The Scottish Prison Service has commissioned Dr. Kevin Power and Dr. Joseph McElroy of the Department of Psychology at the University of Stirling to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of our Suicide Prevention Strategy. In addition, Professor Gunn of the Institute of Psychiatry has been commissioned to consider the appropriateness of the strategy against developments in the care of "at risk" people in other jurisdictions. Both these reports are expected in the near future and I shall consider your suggestion again in the light of these reports.