§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for mothers who are in prison to have regular access to their children. [43540]
§ Beverley HughesThe Prison Service provides the necessary facilities for mothers in prison to ensure that they can sustain a relationship with their children, including regular access. Many of these facilities are available to both male and female prisoners, but have a particular benefit to those that are mothers.
On their initial reception at an establishment, women are given a phonecard at the prison's expense or a free telephone call so that they can immediately let their families know their whereabouts. Subsequently they are allowed to purchase phonecards from the prison shop to maintain that contact. Every woman is able to send a free letter on arrival at an establishment and subsequently is allowed to send a letter at the prison's expense every two weeks. Prison staff can assist prisoners in dealing with these letters.
Visits and family contact are encouraged and every effort is made to emphasise the role that can be played by the prisoner in parenting and sharing the responsibility for the family in general. Governors often provide extra facilities for children's visits and, where resources allow, find new ways in which they can assist prisoners to maintain links with their families. For example, where staffing resources permit, some establishments hold family days where children can visit their mothers for a whole day, share meals and participate in other structured activities for families, for example in the gymnasium or education areas.
In certain cases, families may apply for financial assistance to visit their relatives in prison through the services offered by the Assisted Prison Visits Unit.
352WPrisoners are also enabled to maintain family ties through Release on Temporary Licence. Prisoners may be released on resettlement licence once they have served the requisite period of their sentence and passed a risk assessment. Resettlement leave is usually overnight and can be of up to five days' duration plus travelling time. Prisoners can also be released on compassionate licence. For example, a mother may be granted a compassionate licence to visit her child if the child is unable to visit her.
Mothers are allowed to have their babies with them in prison and at present, there are 64 places spread between four prisons in specialist Mother and Baby Units. There are plans for four more units. The purpose of a Mother and Baby Unit is to enable the mother/baby relationship to develop while safeguarding and promoting the child's welfare. There is an established procedure of admissions boards, assessment and review, involving outside experts. Throughout the whole process the best interests of the child is the guiding principle.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners(a)have committed suicide in the last year and (b)are on suicide watch. [43538]
§ Beverley HughesIn the year 2001 there were a total of six self-inflicted deaths by women.
Her Majesty's Prison Service does not collect data specifically on "suicide watch". If a prisoner is considered at risk of suicide or any form of self-injury a form called an F2052SH is opened. This form initiates a sequence of events to make sure the inmate is cared for. This includes ensuring the prisoner is engaged in conversation at regular intervals, and holding individual case reviews in consultation with health care and other staff. The form remains open until the prisoner appears to coping satisfactorily.
The table shows the total number of F2052SH forms raised in 2001 for female prisoners and the length of time the form was open.
Number Under 1 week 1,876 1 to 2 weeks 1,092 2 to 4 weeks 837 Over 4 weeks 912 Total 4,717
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of women prisoners were diagnosed with mental health problems in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what provision is made available for mental healthcare in women's prisons. [43556]
§ Beverley HughesThis information is not available in the form requested. A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, was undertaken by the Office for National Statistics in 1997. Some 96 per cent. of remanded and 90 per cent. of sentenced women prisoners showed evidence of at least one of the 353W five mental disorders considered in the survey (personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse and drug dependence).
Women prisoners needing in-patient treatment for mental disorder may be transferred to psychiatric hospitals. The care and treatment of prisoners with mental health problems is shared between the Prison Service and the national health service (NHS). Our plans for improving mental health services for prisoners, including the development of NHS in-reach services in the 70 or so prisons with the greatest mental health need, were set out in "Changing the Outlook. A Strategy for Developing and Modernising Mental Health Services in Prisons", which was published in December 2001. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. The text of the document is also available on the prison health section of the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth. Since the strategy document was published it has been announced that NHS in-reach services will be established in 25 more prisons, including three for women, during 2002–03.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the female population is in prison(a)in the UK and (b)in other EU countries. [43537]
§ Beverley HughesThe female prison population in England and Wales on 31 January 2002 was 4,056. This was 0.019 per cent. of the general female population aged 15 and over in England and Wales (21.9 Million). Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not held centrally.
The female prison and general population data for other European Union (EU) countries is given for the latest available dates.
354W
Persons convicted1at all courts of offences of possession of dangerous weapons, England and Wales 1999 and 2000 Persons convicted Offence description Statute 1999 20002 (See footnote (3) for definition of Firearm Groups) Possession etc. of explosives with intent to endanger life Explosives Substances Act 1883, section 3 (in part) — — Possession of firearms etc., with intent to endanger life (Group I) Firearms Act 1968. Section 16 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(2) 87 60 Possession of firearms etc. with intent to endanger life (Group II) Firearms Act 1968, section 16 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 section 28(2) 2 1 Possession of firearms etc. with intent to endanger life (Group III) Firearms Act 1968, section 16 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 section 28(2) 11 3 Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse Prevention of Crime Act 1953, section 1 4,123 4,064 Possessing firearms or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the Act (Group I) Firearms Act 1968, section 17(2) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(3) 36 49 Possessing firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the Act (Group II) Firearms Act 1968, section 17(2) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(3) 2 1 Possessing firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the Act (Group III) Firearms Act 1968, section 17(2) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(3) 3 3
General female population aged 15 and over Female prison population Percentage Ireland 1,906,000 91 0.005 Finland 2,649,000 143 0.005 France 29,725,000 1,670 0.006 Denmark 2,679,000 164 0.006 Sweden 4,482,000 290 0.006 Belgium 5,233,000 356 0.007 Italy 29,389,000 2,246 0.008 Greece 5,324,000 425 0.008 Germany 41,531,000 3,570 0.009 Luxembourg 218,000 20 0.009 Norway 1,588,000 148 0.009 Austria 4,104,000 407 0.010 Netherlands 7,884,000 803 0.010 Spain 20,124,000 4,066 0.020 Portugal 5,185,000 1,097 0.021 Data on the female population of EU countries are taken from the EU Labour force survey 2000. Data for the female prison population of EU countries are taken from the world prison population list produced by Kings College London.