HC Deb 29 November 1996 vol 286 cc453-4W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the Prison Service's policy in respect of stocking specialist cultural goods for minority groups in prison canteens; [5674]

(2) what is the current Prison Service policy regarding the stock which prison canteens and shops can hold; and if he will list the items which all canteens are obliged to stock. [5673]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 29 November 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Prison Service policy on the stocking of goods in prison canteens. In accordance with Prison Service Standing Order 4 and Instruction to Governors, IG 72/94, copies of which are in the House Library, governors should ensure that prison shops are stocked, so far as is practicable, with items which meet the likely needs of prisoners, including those from the ethnic minorities. The following items must be stocked:

  • Batteries for personal possessions;
  • A range of food and confectionary;
  • Toiletries
  • Tobacco
  • Phone cards;
Table 1: Reported serious incidents of self harm by age
Age at time of incident 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
15 1 2 4 7 9 5
16 1 14 18 21 22 14
17 14 48 48 46 39 30
18 11 73 69 62 54 50
Total 27 137 139 136 124 99
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prison officers by grade, including governors, have left the Prison Service during each month of 1996. Details for each grade are given in the attached table. Information is not yet available centrally for governors and officers who left the Service during October. Postage stamps; Stationery and writing implements. Specialist cultural goods for minority groups may also be obtained by prison shops using mail order facilities or by external shopping, where this would not incur disproportionate costs.