§ 15. Sir C. MacAndrewasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present policy as regards the employment of prisoners in Scotland on work for Government Departments and on work for private firms or customers?
§ Mr. ElliotThe policy is to secure as much Government work as possible and, in so far as that work is insufficient to keep prisoners fully employed, to supplement it with work for private firms or customers. The private work is carefully 1012 chosen so as to comply with the terms of Section 12 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act, 1877, under which undue pressure on or competition with any particular trade or industry is to be avoided. It is charged for at rates which do not undercut current market prices. The policy is in accord with the recommendations of the 1933 Departmental Committee on the Employment of Prisoners.