§ *MR. THOMAS HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate (1) whether an inquiry into the Scottish prison system was held in the months of October and November last by a Departmental Committee, composed of three of the chief Scottish prison officials; and (2) whether in the course of such inquiry the Committee visited several of the Scottish prisons and received evidence both in regard to prison hospital arrangements and the association of prisoners without supervision; and, if so, whether he will call for the Proceedings and the Report of the Committee, together with all the papers relative thereto, including the chaplains' and medical officers' reports upon the above-mentioned subjects.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATEThere was no Departmental Committee as is suggested by the first paragraph of the Question. I am informed by the Prison Commissioners for Scotland, that in accordance with ordinary official practice inquiries were made by a private Committee, consisting of a prison inspector and two governors, who were instructed by the Prison Commissioners to inquire and report to them on certain matters connected with the prison service. I will take this opportunity of correcting the reply given by me on the 24th May last, owing to error in the information given me by saying that evidence was tendered to these gentlemen by some medical officers in regard to the treatment of sick prisoners. I may add that Reports by Committees of the above nature are regarded as confidential documents for the use of the Prison Commissioners who are, of course, responsible to the Secretary for Scotland.