§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders were transferred from prison to high security hospitals in the last(a) six months and (b) three months of their sentences in each of the past five years. [86432]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe available relevant information has been extracted from centrally held statistics and relates to the number of convicted prisoners who were transferred in the years 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Convicted offenders recorded as being transferred from Prison Service establishments to high security1 hospitals as restricted patients, by period before release date 1995 1996 1997 Within 3 months of release date 1 8 8 Within 6 months of release date 4 11 8 Determinate sentence with date of release not recorded 0 2 2 Total transferred from Prison to high security1 hospitals 47 55 34 1Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton The figures relate to transfers, by order of the Secretary of State, of prisoners serving a sentence in a Prison Service Establishment made under sections 47 and 49 of the Mental Health Act 1983. The imposition of a restriction under section 49 has the effect of requiring the Secretary of State's consent on all matters relating to leave of absence, transfer or discharge.