HC Deb 24 March 1936 vol 310 cc1037-8
29. Mr. J. J. DAVIDSON

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of private firms for which work is done by inmates of Scottish prisons?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

No, Sir. It would not be in the public interest to publish the information asked for. The amount of prison work involved in these orders is small in comparison with the work performed for Government Departments, and the orders are placed by a constantly changing number of firms.

Mr. DAVIDSON

Is it not the view of the Department that this practice should entirely stop, and can the hon. and gallant Member give any indication as to when the Department will take action to see that it is stopped?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

I suggest that the hon. Member should read the report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Prisoners, which was issued in 1933, and after he has read that report, which deals very fully with this subject, I shall be glad to try to answer any further questions he may wish to put.

Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

Could not the work done in prison for these private firms be done outside by other workers?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

Again I would refer the hon. Member to the report of the Departmental Committee, which no doubt he knows well. Every effort is made to have regard to the possible effect of such work on outside competitors and to charge only fair market prices. I may say to the hon. Member for Maryhill (Mr. Davidson) that every effort is being made to replace these private orders by Government orders and to make the percentage of private orders as low as possible.

Mr. DAVIDSON

Are the names of the firms mentioned in the report?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

No, Sir, the names are not given, but there is much information regarding the subject in general.