Written question asked by Tom Cox (Labour) on Monday, 27 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 February 2003. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 3 February 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what health provision his Department provides to prisons in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health provision his Department provides to prisons in Greater London; and if he will make a statement. [94320] Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health and the Prison Service have been working together to bring about a significant improvement in standards of prison health care. Under partnership arrangements introduced in April 2000, the Prison Service meets the costs of providing primary health care services to prisoners, while the National Health Service meets the costs of any secondary or tertiary health services they may need. The London prisons have already benefited from this partnership approach, which has, for example, led to NHS-funded, mental health in-reach teams being introduced in the seven closed Prison Service establishments in London. We shall continue to promote the reform of health services for prisoners, which, over the next few years, will become part of the NHS. Funding responsibility for prison health services in England is being transferred from the Home Office to the Department of Health with effect from 1 April 2003.

Secondary information