HC Deb 13 April 2000 vol 348 cc258-60W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes there have been in young offenders' institutions to deal with bullying; if such changes have been effective; and if he will make a statement. [118875]

Mr. Boateng

The most recent change in young offender institutions has been the introduction of Prison Service Order 1702 which was issued in July 1999, a copy of which is in the Library. The Order requires that each establishment has a written anti-bullying strategy and an anti-bullying co-ordinator in place. In addition, each establishment must provide a copy of their strategy to Prison Service headquarters. On 11 April 2000, 55 written strategies had been reviewed by Prison Service headquarters; of these, 10 were from young offender institutions.

The positive action already being taken by establishments will convey to all prisoners that the Prison Service takes the problem of bullying seriously. The Prison Service is confident that the development of the local strategies, together with improved training for staff, will reduce bullying in young offender institutions.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what allegations have been received by his Department of bullying at young offenders' institutions in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [118876]

Mr. Boateng

The information requested cannot be obtained from the centrally available data without incurring disproportionate costs.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides have occurred in the past two years in young offenders' institutions; and if he will list the institutions. [118877]

Mr. Boateng

The information requested is given in the table.

Number of self-inflicted deaths
Young offender institutions 1998 1999
Aylesbury 0 3
Castington 0 1
Deerbolt 0 0
Dover 0 0
Feltham 0 0
Glen Parva 2 1
Guys Marsh 0 0
Hatfield 0 0
Huntercombe 0 0
Onley 0 0
Portland 0 1
Reading 3 0
Stoke Heath 0 1
Swinfen Hall 0 0
Thorn Cross 0 0
Wetherby 0 1

Notes:

1. Establishments have been categorised according to their primary role. However, it should be noted that there are a number of other prisons that hold young offenders (eg male remand centres) which are not included.

Jobseekers Allowance claimants in receipt of national insurance credits only by Government Office Region by sex and age: Great Britain November 1999
Thousand
All cases Female Male
Under 50 50 and over Under 50 50 and over Under 50 50 and over
Great Britain 67.1 40.9 24.9 11.7 42.1 29.2
North 4.2 2.9 1.1 0.6 3.1 2.3
North West 9.3 4.7 3.1 1.2 6.2 3.5
Yorks and Humber 7.0 4.3 2.8 1.0 4.2 3.3
East Midlands 3.9 2.5 1.6 0.7 2.2 1.8
West Midlands 5.8 4.4 2.4 1.4 3.5 3.0
Eastern 4.8 3.2 1.7 1.1 3.1 2.1
London 9.4 4.2 3.3 1.5 6.2 2.7
South East 6.4 3.7 2.6 0.9 3.8 2.8
South West 5.2 2.8 2.3 0.9 2.9 1.9
Wales 3.7 2.9 1.2 0.8 2.5 2.1
Scotland 7.2 5.2 2.8 1.5 4.4 3.7

Notes:

  1. 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and shown in thousands.
  2. 2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample.
  3. 3. Figures for Northern Ireland can be obtained form my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

2. Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.