HC Deb 05 November 2001 vol 374 c105W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places there were in the special hospitals at(a) Ashworth, (b) Broadmoor and (c) Rampton (i) in 1996–97 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [10518]

Jacqui Smith

The information requested is given in the table.

Contracted places
1996–97 October 2001
Ashworth Hospital 500 427
Broadmoor Hospital 443 408
Rampton Hospital 448 430
Total 1,391 1,265

The reduction in contracted places reflects our policy that patients inappropriately placed in the high security hospitals should be moved to more appropriate accommodation.