§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason there was a delay from June 1996 to May 1997 in implementing a system of three-monthly health reviews of prisoners detained in special secure units; what is the agreed format and content of these reviews; how many prisoners have been examined to date; and what percentage of the total special secure unit population this represents. [12605]
§ Ms QuinThe special secure unit operating standards were amended in January 1997 to provide that the health of prisoners detained in SSUs should be formally reviewed at three-monthly intervals. Detailed discussion about the content and format of health reviews and related 773W disclosure issues were not concluded until April 1997. Instructions were issued to prison medical officers and the first reviews took place in May 1997.
The process of formal review does not replace the existing arrangements for the health care of prisoners in SSUs which is comparable to that elsewhere in the prison service. The three-monthly reviews are designed to collate information gathered over the review period, assess the health of each prisoner, identity any areas of concern and initiate any necessary remedial action. Reports from outside specialists may be commissioned where necessary. A summary of the three-monthly review report along with any health care recommendations is given to each prisoner.
In May 1997 there were 23 exceptional risk prisoners held in SSUs. Reviews were carried out on all of these prisoners. There are now only six exceptional risk prisoners in England and Wales, all of whom are held in the Whitemoor SSU. Subsequent reviews have been carried out on these prisoners.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average total cost per year of maintaining a prisoner in a special secure unit. [12606]
§ Ms QuinThe average total cost1 per prisoner place in a special secure unit is estimated to be approximately £61,000 per annum for the year ending 31 March 1997, the period for which the last detailed analysis was carried out.
1 Average total cost represents the cost per SSU accommodation place certified to hold prisoners in an establishment.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently held in special secure units; for how long each prisoner has been held in such units; and what is the nationality of each such prisoner. [12607]
§ Ms QuinThe table shows the six prisoners held in the special secure unit at Whitemoor. There are currently no other prisoners held in SSUs.
Nationality Offence Time spent in SSU American Conspiracy to murder 2 years 7 months Colombian Customs evasion 4 months British Armed robbery 9 years 3 months Cypriot Customs evasion 4 years 2 months Irish Republic Importation of drugs 1 year 11 months British Importation of drugs 1 year 11 months