HC Deb 19 January 2000 vol 342 cc451-2W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors to each of the London prisons were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of seeking to take illegal drugs into a prison in 1999. [104459]

Mr. Boateng

Figures for the number of visitors to London prisons who were charged with, or convicted of seeking to take illegal drugs into a prison in 1999 are not recorded by the Prison Service.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at each of the London prisons were put on a governor's report in 1999. [104463]

Mr. Boateng

Adjudication statistics refer to charges rather than individuals and the available information, for January to November 1999, is given in the table.

Number of adjudications (governor's reports) on offences against prison discipline, January to November 1999
Prison establishments in Greater London Number
Belmarsh 1,430
Brixton 1,055
Downview 114
Feltham 1,832
High Down 1,081
Holloway 1,279
Latchmere House 93
Pentonville 1,220
Wandsworth 1,060
Wormwood Scrubs 744
Total 9,908

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip-searches of inmates took place in each of the London prisons in each of the last 12 months. [104462]

Mr. Boateng

Prisons are not required to maintain statistics of the number of strip searches carried out. Strip searching is an essential element in maintaining security and good order in prisons. It is not possible to record every occasion on which it takes place, as at present this would have to be done manually. This would pose an unacceptable administrative burden, achievable only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held in London prisons for alleged immigration offences on 1 January. [104461]

Mr. Boateng

The available information is for 30 November 1999 and relates to the number of persons held in London prisons under the Immigration Act 1971. On that date, there were 59 males and 25 females held in London prisons under the Immigration Act 1971.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates held in London prisons attempted(a) to commit suicide and (b) to cause self-inflicted injuries in 1999. [104460]

Mr. Boateng

The information requested is given in the table, which covers the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999.

Establishment Incidents of self-harm financial year 1998–99
Belmarsh 61
Brixton 186
Downview 1
Feltham 292
High Down 61
Holloway 250
Latchmere House 0
Pentonville 94
Wandsworth 305
Wormwood Scrubs 185

Notes:

  1. 1. These data are derived from information provided by establishments to the Directorate of Health Care.
  2. 2. Incidents do not equate to numbers of prisoners as an individual prisoner may self-harm more than once.
  3. 3. Statistics on self-harm are collected on a financial year basis.
  4. 4. The establishments listed are those in the Greater London area.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at each of the London prisons were charged with being in possession of illegal drugs while in prison in 1999. [104458]

Mr. Boateng

The number of offences of possession considered at adjudication is given in the table.

Number of adjudications on offences of possession of a controlled drug, January to November 1999
Prison establishments in Greater London Number of offences1
Belmarsh 2
Brixton 18
Downview 1
Feltham 60
High Down 26
Holloway 4
Latchmere House 1
Pentonville 59
Wandsworth 6
Wormwood Scrubs 21
1 Individual prisoners may be charged with more than one offence