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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff who are smokers; and what action he is taking to reduce the numbers. [143095] Paul Goggins: [holding answer 9 December 2003]: The information requested is as follows: (a) Approximately 80 per cent. of prisoners smoke. (b) There is no current estimate of the percentage of prison staff that smoke. The Directorate of Prison Health has recently completed a pilot programme to establish best practice for smoking cessation services in prisons. Five prisons were involved in the pilots and the rollout programme is such that all prisons will be involved in these services by the end of the financial year. Results so far indicate a similar success rate to that which is to be found with such initiatives in the community. Delivery will be evaluated over the next two years and further development work is ongoing with Strathclyde University. This year £500,000 has been allocated across all Primary Care Trusts that cater for prisons in their areas. It is planned that such funds will be made available each year through to 2006. Since 1 July 1996, Prison Governors have been required to comply with the Prison Service Workplace Smoking Policy. The aim of this policy is to ensure that a smoke-free working environment can be enjoyed by everyone. Smoking is not permitted in any office accommodation, including single occupancy offices and adjacent circulation spaces. Nor is smoking permitted in toilets, lifts and conference rooms. In prisons, smoking is banned in all visits areas and it is recommended that governors prohibit smoking in all communal areas. In establishing local smoking policies, Governors are encouraged to complement them with the provision of smoking cessation courses for those wishing to give up.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

143095; 415 c620W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Finance Health education Prisoners Prisons Staff Smoking

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk