§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ratio of the number of suicides to inmates in prisons in England and Wales, in each of the last three years,(a) by gender and (b) in total; what discussions he has had with the Scottish Office concerning the prevention of suicides in prisons; and if he will make a statement. [50599]
§ Ms QuinThe information requested is given in the tables. Officials in the Prison Service for Scotland have with their counterparts in England and Wales discussed strategies on caring for the suicidal in custody. My hon. Friend the Minister for Home Affairs and Devolution, Scottish Office, recently announced a package of strategic measures, which add to and complement the recently introduced Scottish Prison Service Suicide Risk Management Strategy. The measures include the setting up of a task force to examine in detail all the circumstances surrounding the deaths in prison custody in Scotland this year to identify any common factors and lessons to be learned. A member of the Prison Service for England and Wales Suicide Awareness Support Group will form part of the task force, which I understand will report to Ministers later this year.
Self-inflicted deaths among male and female prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales 1995–1997 and the rate of self-inflicted deaths per 100,000 annual average population Year Number of self-inflicted deaths Rate per 100,000 annual average population Male prisoners 1995 57 116 1996 62 117 1997 67 115 Female prisoners 1995 2 101 1996 2 88 1997 3 112
Year Total self-inflicted deaths Rate per 100,000 annual average population All prisoners 1995 59 116 1996 64 116 1997 70 115