§ MR. WILLAM WHITELAW (Perth)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he could state how often, how long, and to what extent during the last two years, there has been overcrowding in the prisons of Ayr, Barlinnie, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that there has been no overcrowding in any of the prisons referred to, but on several occasions, chiefly from a sudden influx of short-sentenced prisoners, the number of prisoners has exceeded the number of cells, so that certain of the prisoners were accommodated in the association cells until the number was reduced or removal took place, which was generally in a day or two. The general rule is that each prison in Scotland shall accommodate the prisoners from the district, and where, from temporary causes, committals exceed the cell accommodation, the removal of the excess prisoners to another prison is at once ordered by the Commissioners. At Ayr Prison the female prison has been under reconstruction since June, 1891, and during the progress of the works the committals have on several occasions exceeded for a few days at a time the number of cells. At Barlinnie General Prison the accommodation is sufficient for the occupation, although from 21st July to 25th August, 1891, from a temporary cause, the number committed exceeded the cells. The excess numbers were at once removed. At the Prison of Dundee the cell accommodation is not sufficient for the numbers committed, and during the past two years 362 male prisoners and 58 females have been removed to another prison whenever an excess was reported. At Edinburgh Prison the accommodation is sufficient. For a few days in the autumn of 1891 there were from 10 to 20 male prisoners in excess of the number of cells. At Glasgow, during the reconstruction of the female prison, the prisoners exceeded the number of cells on about 20 occasions 899 from temporary causes. The accommodation now provided is considered ample.