HC Deb 19 May 1931 vol 252 cc1759-60
27. Mr. R. W. SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of women members of visiting committees for prisons in Scotland; and if there are any visiting committees on which there are no women members?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Westwood)

There are 35 women members of visiting committees for seven prisons. There are no women members on the visiting committees for Kirkwall and Lerwick Prisons, where female prisoners are seldom received, nor on the visiting committees for Barlinnie and Peterhead where no female prisoners are received. The visiting committees for the three Borstal institutions in which females only are detained number 15 members, who are all women.

Mr. SMITH

Will the Under-Secretary take steps to see that in the case of prisons where females are received, and where there are no women members of the committee, women are appointed to the committee?

Mr. WESTWOOD

In all prisons where females are received there are, as I have pointed out, women visitors.

Mr. SMITH

I understood the hon. Member to say that there were three prisons in which women were received where there were no women visitors.

Mr. WESTWOOD

I did not make that statement, and the hon. Member will see by my answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow that I did not make that statement.