§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provisions he has made for the conversion of prison accommodation to suit an elderly prison population; [66441]
(2) what plans he has to authorise conversion of prisons or prison wings to cater for the needs of elderly inmates. [66434]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Prison Service meets the demands of elderly prisoners in the light of their particular circumstances and the facilities already available at the particular establishment where they are housed. At present, inmates over the age of 50 are held within the general prison population according to their legal status, security requirement and geographical location. This enables inmates to receive regular visits from professional advisers and maintain ties with their families. It also helps the Probation Service in their work to resettle offenders back into the community.
Kingston prison, Portsmouth, has a unit for elderly life sentenced prisoners, which was created in recognition of the increasing number of these prisoners. The Prison Service is keeping the position under consideration.