31. Mr. DAVIDSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any steps have been taken by the Scottish Office to assist employment in Scotland by abolishing the system of work being done for private firms in Scottish prisons?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEAs explained in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 2nd March, work in Scottish prisons for private firms is gradually being discontinued in favour of work for Government Departments. Meanwhile it is not practicable to abolish entirely work for private firms.
Mr. DAVIDSONWhy is it not practicable to abolish work done in prisons for private firms who are competing with other private firms paying trade union rates?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe hon. Member will be aware of the report of the Departmental Committee on the subject of the employment of prisoners in which it is clearly stated that it is to the benefit of the prisoners that they should be given work to do. If Government contracts are not available to take up the total amount produced it is necessary at present still to allow some to go to private persons, but it is the deliberate policy of the Government to reduce that as soon as possible.
Mr. DAVIDSONDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman really mean to infer that there are no Government work and Government contracts for prisoners in Scottish prisons, and that, therefore, you 990 have to go outside to private firms, and is this consistent with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's own speech to the Scottish Development Council?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEYes, Sir; the Government contracts are certainly a source of employment, and at present Government contracts have not absorbed all the work at the prisons. As far as the effect on outside employment is concerned, I would add that, at the most, 500 prisoners are affected by this system.