To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what different types of medical qualification exist for prison staff involved in medical care of prisoners; and what is the minimum level of such personnel available at all times in prison.
All prison service establishments are served by one or more medical officers all of whom are registered medical practitioners. Many have psychiatric or other special qualifications. Twenty-four hour medical cover is required and is achieved by a combination of daily attendance and an emergency "on call" rota.Nursing services are provided by hospital officers (prison officers who specialise in health care) and civilian nurses. All the latter, and about 16 per cent. of hospital officers, have a recognised professional nursing qualification. Other hospital officers have received in-service training (currently of 24 weeks duration) in basic nursing techniques. The staffing levels and working patterns are conditioned by the size and function of individual establishments.
| Average population of Cardiff remand centre and local prison: by type of prisoner | ||||||
| 1979 to 1990 | ||||||
| Remand prisoners | Sentenced prisoners1 | Non-criminal prisoners | All prisoners | |||
| Under 21 | Adult | Under 21 | Adult | |||
| Number | Number | Number | Number | Number | Number | |
| 1979 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 44 | — | 40 | — | — | 84 |
| Local prison | — | 73 | — | 305 | 5 | 383 |
| 1980 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 46 | — | 48 | — | — | 93 |
| Local prison | — | 88 | — | 289 | 3 | 380 |
| 1981 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 61 | — | 48 | — | — | 109 |
| Local prison | — | 86 | — | 288 | 5 | 379 |
| 1982 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 63 | — | 48 | — | — | 112 |
| Local prison | — | 86 | — | 324 | 1 | 410 |
| 1983 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 52 | — | 35 | — | — | 87 |
| Local prison | — | 93 | — | 301 | 1 | 395 |
| 1984 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 49 | — | 38 | — | — | 88 |
| Local prison | — | 78 | — | 243 | 3 | 323 |
| 1985 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 51 | — | 47 | — | 1 | 98 |
| Local prison | — | 128 | — | 245 | 1 | 375 |
| 1986 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 61 | — | 31 | — | — | 92 |
| Local prison | — | 113 | — | 296 | 2 | 410 |
| 1987 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 74 | — | 38 | — | — | 113 |
| Local prison | — | 97 | — | 328 | 1 | 427 |
| 1988 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 71 | — | 38 | — | — | 107 |
| Local prison | — | 100 | — | 320 | 3 | 422 |
| 1989 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 66 | — | 19 | — | — | 85 |
| Local prison | — | 102 | — | 291 | 2 | 394 |
| 19902 | ||||||
| Remand centre | 70 | — | 17 | — | — | 87 |
| Local prison | — | 117 | — | 245 | 2 | 364 |
| 1 Including fine defaulters. | ||||||
| 2 31 January and 28 February. | ||||||
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the maximum number of prisoners accommodated at Cardiff prison at any point during each of the past 10 years and in the current year to date; and how many were (a) sentenced offenders, (b) remand prisoners and (c) young prisoners in each case.