§ MR. T. C. H. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether under the present prison system of Scotland imbecile or weak-minded prisoners are associated in cells with other criminals without the personal supervision either of officers or hired attendants, whose duty it should be to see that such prisoners are not maltreated; whether sick prisoners are left to the care of fellow criminals who are wholly without experience in the treatment of invalids; whether evidence showing that these practices prevailed was given in November last by a number of medical men holding appointments in connection with prisons in Scotland; and whether, in view of the fact that such practices have been 1128 condemned by Commissioners of Prisons and abolished both in England and Ireland, he will undertake at an early date to endeavour to assimilate the prison system of Scotland in these particulars to the more humane modes of treatment obtaining in England and Ireland?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI am informed by the Prison Commissioners for Scotland that when weak-minded prisoners are associated on medical grounds they are under the close inspection of prison officers who are responsible that no prisoner is maltreated, but that all are properly cared for, and by the rules the medical officer has to satisfy himself that the arrangements are effective; that sick prisoners are not left to the care of fellow criminals; and that no record can be found of any evidence given by prison, medical officers in November last regarding the care of the sick. The Prison Commissioners are satisfied that the treatment of the sick prisoners is humane, and they have always directed their special attention to this part of prison administration.