§ 70. Mr. DEVLINasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the treatment of untried Irish prisoners at present detained in Scottish prisons; whether the Irish prisoners awaiting trial in Duke Street prison, Glasgow, were confined in their cells for 23 out of the 24 hours a day; and whether, in view of the undesirability of applying such close confinement to prisoners awaiting trial, he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter with a view to allowing better conditions to those prisoners who are detained awaiting trial, and have not yet been found guilty of any charge?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Morison)The attention of my right hon. Friend had not been called to the matter referred to in the first part of the question. The present period of exercise for untried male prisoners at Duke Street prison is 1¼ hours daily, and untried Irish prisoners receive the 1795 same treatment as other untried prisoners. By the Statutory Rules for Prisons in Scotland the length of time of exercise is regulated by the medical officer. My right hon. Friend has made inquiry, and learns that a few days ago one of the Prison Commissioners visited the Irish prisoners and asked if they had any complaint to make, and in all cases was answered in the negative.