§ 58. Mr. LEACHasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the regulations of the Scottish Office which ensure that prisoners in Edinburgh police cells shall be provided with butter in their regular diet; and will he take steps to see that His Majesty's military forces are similarly provided?
Mr. COOPERI understand that no instructions to the effect that prisoners detained in police lock-up cells in Edinburgh shall be provided with butter in their regular diet, have been issued by the Scottish Office. My right hon. Friend has merely intimated to police authorities in Scotland that he considers that the maximum allowance for a meal for such prisoners should be ninepence, with a limit of three meals to any one prisoner per diem. The manner in which the money is spent is left to the discretion of the police authority. As regards the second part of the question, the matter is still under consideration.
§ Mr. LEACHDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the communication from the Scottish Office to which he refers makes definite reference to the provision of butter, and does he further realise that if the Scottish Office are making the Scottish prison cell more attractive than the Army, it will have an effect on recruiting?