§ 52. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any inspection of Barlinnie Prison has been conducted by the Prisons Department since the recent inquiry; and whether the rules and regulations have been modified or are being applied?
§ Sir G. COLLINSDuring the period to which the hon. Member refers the prison has been inspected on six occasions by the Secretary to the Prisons Department for Scotland. The ordinary prison rules and instructions apply to Barlinnie but at present they are undergoing review.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYMay we take it that the state of discipline in this prison has been satisfactory since the inquiry?
§ Sir G. COLLINSYes, Sir, I have had no complaints whatever of any lack of discipline in this prison.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman again going into the question of the undesirability of having both tried and untried prisoners in one prison?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThat is another question. The difficulty is to get suitable land and to erect the prisons for the prisoners 1868 referred to. An inspector has been appointed to review all the prisons in Scotland, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall address myself once again to the problem to which he has referred.
§ Mr. BUCHANANFrom whom is this inspector gathering information?
§ Sir G. COLLINSHe is going round the prisons of Scotland in the course of his duties and reporting direct to me.
§ 53. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that prisoners who have been admitted to Barlinnie about one o'clock p.m. are, after reception formalities, placed separately in extremely small cubicles and frequently kept there for several hours pending examination by the medical officer; that the cubicles referred to have no conveniences necessary for such extended occupancy; and whether he will ensure that in future medical examinations will be expeditiously made or more suitable accommodation provided?
§ Sir G. COLLINSPrisoners received at Barlinnie about 1 p.m. are kept in small cubicles until medically examined. Untried prisoners are examined at 2 p.m., but the examination of convicted prisoners is sometimes deferred until 3.30 p.m. I am satisfied that there is no undue delay in conducting the medical examinations, and that otherwise the arrangements are adequate.
§ Mr. LEONARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prisoners are sometimes kept as much as four and five hours in small cramped cubicles?
§ Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many long-sentence prisoners in Barlinnie prison during the last 12 months have contracted scabies after completing several months of their sentence through contact with dirty closet seats; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the cleansing of closets is more effectively performed?
§ Sir G. COLLINSDuring the past 12 months no prisoner in Barlinnie prison has contracted scabies from the cause mentioned. The accommodation in question is subjected daily to a scrupulous cleansing and is regularly inspected.
§ Mr. LEONARDIf I give the right hon. Gentleman some details will he go further into the matter?
§ Sir G. COLLINSMost decidedly.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not possible to fit these places with continental sanitary conveniences instead of having these disgusting contraptions?