Prisoners: Acquired Brain Injuries

Lord McColl of Dulwich Excerpts

Tuesday 12th February 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I am not in a position to say what the scope of social work training is with regard to that point, but I quite accept the observation made by the noble Baroness. However, where it is anticipated that someone will be subject to imprisonment, or where they have come into contact with the criminal justice system, NHS England has commissioned liaison and diversion services aimed at identifying those who are vulnerable. It is anticipated that by 2020-21, that service will cover the whole of England.

[Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that much more serious than head injuries is the high incidence in these prisons of obesity? Obesity cannot be blamed on poverty: it is due to prison authorities feeding prisoners too many calories. Will the Government look into that?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I am not aware of any serious issue of obesity within our prisons, but there may be some limitations on exercise, including cross-country running.