§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1998,Official Report, columns 587–88, in respect of plans to reduce the risk of the spread of communicable diseases in prisons, if he will outline the criteria that the independent academic team based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will use to evaluate the success of the initiative; and if he will list the prisons in which the pilot scheme will take place. [49488]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe purpose of the pilot scheme is to trial a variety of distribution methods for disinfecting tablets. The evaluation by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will take account of:
- take-up rate of the tablets;
- the working of the various methods for distribution of the tablets, including whether or not they ensure anonymity;
- any obstacles to implementation; and
- any evidence of intended and unintended effects on existing regimes.
The following establishments are taking part in the pilot scheme: Askham Grange; Coldingley: Cookham Wood; Garth; Highdown; Holloway; Long Lartin; Norwich; Stoke Heath; Welstun; and Woodhill.