§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the quality and the amount of psychiatric help provided to prisoners with problems of mental ill health. [54214]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe provision of mental healthcare in prisons was reviewed by the independent standing Health Advisory Committee (HAC) for the Prison Service, which published a report containing 16 recommendations for improvements last autumn. Implementation of the HAC's recommendations is being considered by the Joint Prison Service/National Health Service Executive working group, established to advise on options for improving prisoners' health care. The joint working group has been looking at, among other improvements, ways of increasing the contributions made by the NHS to mental health services for prisoners.