HC Deb 18 February 1997 vol 290 cc516-7W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths occurred in HM prisons in each year from 1990 to 1993(a) in total and (b) per head of the prison population. [15393]

Miss Widdecombe

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 form Richard Tilt to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 18 February 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of self inflicted deaths at prison establishments in each year from 1990 to 1993. The figures on self inflicted deaths are given below. Self inflicted deaths do not necessarily conclude with a verdict of suicide.

Calendar year Total self inflicted deaths Average population Rate of self inflicted deaths per 100,000 population
1990 50 44,975 111
1991 42 44,809 94
1992 41 44,719 92
1993 47 44,552 105