HC Deb 21 March 2003 vol 401 cc965-6W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget is for prison health care services; and what the total funding allocation to primary care trusts is for 2003–04 for the cost of taking over prison health care services. [103385]

Jacqui Smith

There has not, historically, been a separate budget for health care within overall prison service expenditure. A recent survey of prison establishments established that the full-year revenue cost of health care in English prisons in 2002–03 was around £113 million, excluding privately run prisons.

The Department will assume overall financial responsibility for prison health services from April 2003. However, the Government do not plan to devolve full financial responsibility for these services to primary care trusts (PCTs) until April 2006. Until then, the majority of funding for prison health services will be passed back to the prison service to secure services as now. Allocations to PCTs for 2003–04 take account of existing national health service responsibilities for securing secondary care services for prisoners, along with the development of mental health in-reach teams under the NHS Plan.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget provision has been made for the screening of prison inmates for Hepatitis C. [103387]

Jacqui Smith

Prisoners in England and Wales are not routinely screened for Hepatitis C, although individuals may ask to be tested for evidence of the infection. Allocations made to primary care trusts include provision for the costs of such services.

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which prisons condoms are available to prisoners(a) through the prison doctor, (b) through the prison shop and (c) from other sources; and if he will make a statement. [102470]

Jacqui Smith

This information is not available centrally. Prison doctors have been advised that they can make condoms available to individual prisoners on application where, in their clinical judgment, there is a risk of infection from HIV.