(2) how many inmates have died in prison from natural causes in each year since 2002.
The following table gives the number of people known to have died from cancer while in prison custody in England and Wales in each year since 2001.
Number of known cancer related deaths in prison custody in England and Wales 2001 6 2002 7 2003 17 2004 21 2005 19 2006 18 2007 14 2008 22
The number known to be cancer related are shown in this table and refer to primary cause of death but exclude cases where cancer played a secondary or tertiary role. In later years the numbers should be interpreted as provisional, as they may change following inquests or as new information emerges.
The following table gives the total number of deaths from natural causes in prison custody in England and Wales since 2002.
Total number of deaths from natural causes in prison custody in England and Wales 2002 66 2003 86 2004 102 2005 88 2006 83 2007 92 2008 98
Every death in prison is a tragedy, and affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and NOMS are committed to learning from each death and to reducing the number of such incidents. Deaths in prisons are among the most scrutinised of all incidents and each case is subject to a police investigation and independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Robust systems are in place for monitoring deaths and learning from them.