HC Deb 24 November 1931 vol 260 cc216-7
78. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the secretary of state for Scotland how many Borstal institutes there are in Scotland and how many inmates?

The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Major Sir Archibald Sinclair)

Persons sentenced to Borstal detention in Scotland are at present accommodated in one Borstal institution and in four parts of prisons reserved for Borstal cases. The number of inmates on 18th November was 213 males and 16 females.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Are the inmates on the increase or the decrease?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I must ask for notice of that question.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking the Borstal boys away from the prisons?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I should like to assure the hon. Member that the most scrupulous care is taken to keep these boys and girls away from the other inmates of the prisons, and the supervisory staff is very carefully selected for this work.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that he will take away these Borstal boys and girls from the prisons altogether There is adequate room for them elsewhere.

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE

Are the cases frequently reviewed, so that boys who show signs of coming back to normal behaviour can have their punishment reduced?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Certainly they are reviewed. As regards the previous question, I am assured that the parts of the prisons which have been set apart serve their purpose very well.

Mr. BUCHANAN

In the review of these cases, will the right hon. Gentleman show greater sympathy and clemency than any of his predecessors?

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