HC Deb 25 November 1997 vol 301 cc451-2W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the nature of the(a) medical and (b) health care research currently being undertaken within the Prison Service. [17623]

Ms Quin

Current medical or health care research being undertaken within the Prison Service has centred on epidemiological studies of hepatitis B and C, and HIV/AIDS, and the psychiatric morbidity of male sentenced prisoners. In addition, work is also being carried out to evaluate drug detoxification and treatment programmes, and the impact of Mandatory Drugs Testing on the pattern of drug abuse within prisons. Other work involves studies into the management and throughcare of mentally disordered offenders.