(2) how many young males (a) attempted and (b) committed suicide in each Welsh prison in each year between 2000 and 2007; and if he will make a statement.
There is no definition of what constitutes an attempted suicide, as it is not possible to measure suicidal intent.
The available figures express the proportion as a rate of self-inflicted deaths per 100,000 prisoners for the period 2000-07. There are no female or high-security prisons in Wales, and many Welsh male prisoners are held in prisons in England.
Proportion as rate Average 2000-07 SIDs1 rate/100,0002: England 115.9 SIDs1 rate/100,0002: Wales 110.9 Overall SIDs1 rate/100,000 115.7 1 The Prison Service/NOMS definition of self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available. 2 Based on an average of each years month end population figures.
There were four self-inflicted deaths among young males (under 21) in Welsh prisons between 2000 and 2007: two in 2001, one in 2002 and one in 2006. All occurred at Parc, which is the only young offender institution in Wales.