Written Question · S2W-20440 · Session 2
How many prisoners suffered from, or presented with, (a) mental health problems, (b) dyslexia, (c) other literacy problems, (d) numeracy pr…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners suffered from, or presented with, (a) mental health problems, (b) dyslexia, (c) other literacy problems, (d) numeracy problems, (e) alcoholism or drink-related problems, (f) drug addiction or substance abuse, (g) homelessness and (h) debt or financial problems in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of prisoners, and how many staff employed in prisons dealt with these problems annually, broken down by field of specialisation.
The answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
(a) This information is not available.
(b) This information is not available.
(c) and (d)
Not all prisoners are screened for literacies. However, based on assessments undertaken on prisoner samples over this period around 50% demonstrated literacy problems, and slightly more had problems with numeracy.
(e) and (f)
Both drugs and alcohol are combined under substance misuse, and were not collated separately until August 2005:
| 2000-01
| 2001-02
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
Total recorded entries into prisons
| 20 667
| 22 137
| 23 702
| 23 508
Total addictions presentations
| 14 300
| 16 867
| 14 570
| 18 186
Presentation as a % of total admissions
| 69%
| 76%
| 61.5%
| 77%
(g) This information is not available.
(h) This information is not available.
The staff figures sought are not available. Most SPS employees in SPS prisons, contracted staff in SPS prisons and contractors such as HM Prison Kilmarnock deal with these prisoner issues.
(a) This information is not available.
(b) This information is not available.
(c) and (d)
Not all prisoners are screened for literacies. However, based on assessments undertaken on prisoner samples over this period around 50% demonstrated literacy problems, and slightly more had problems with numeracy.
(e) and (f)
Both drugs and alcohol are combined under substance misuse, and were not collated separately until August 2005:
| 2000-01
| 2001-02
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
Total recorded entries into prisons
| 20 667
| 22 137
| 23 702
| 23 508
Total addictions presentations
| 14 300
| 16 867
| 14 570
| 18 186
Presentation as a % of total admissions
| 69%
| 76%
| 61.5%
| 77%
(g) This information is not available.
(h) This information is not available.
The staff figures sought are not available. Most SPS employees in SPS prisons, contracted staff in SPS prisons and contractors such as HM Prison Kilmarnock deal with these prisoner issues.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-20440 by reference.