38. Mr. J. J. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he 3497 is aware that the late Sir Godfrey Collins, then Secretary of State for Scotland, promised to this House in July, 1935, that the prison regulations were to be completely reviewed; whether this has yet been done; and when they will be available for sale to the public?
§ Mr. ColvilleThe revision referred to is proceeding, and arrangements have recently been made to expedite its completion.
Mr. DavidsonIn view of the very great delay in this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman hasten this report as much as possible, and will he make it available to the prison officers themselves?
§ Mr. ColvilleMy answer indicates that I am doing everything I can to ensure its completion.
39. Mr. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the letter sent to him in which the writer describes the conditions prevailing at Barlinnie prison officers' houses in regard to bad drains and drinking water; and whether he will remedy this state of affairs which should not exist in property under the direct ownership and surveillance of a Department of the State?
§ Mr. ColvilleI assume that the hon. Member refers to an extract from the Prison Officers Magazine for November, 1937, which I received from him yesterday. I am looking into the points raised in it, and I will communicate with him as soon as possible.
§ Mr. ColvilleYes, Sir.
40. Mr. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a large number of the bandages in use in the surgery ward of Barlinnie prison are, after use, sent to the prison laundry to be washed and ironed and thereafter returned to the surgery for further use, and that this practice continues until they are no longer usable; and whether he will take immediate steps to put a stop to this state of affairs?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am informed that cotton bandages used for retaining dressings and found to be unsoiled after use are sent to the laundry, where they are steeped in 3498 lysol and then thoroughly washed. If a bandage is soiled, it is destroyed by being burned. No bandage which has been in contact with a wound of any kind is used again. Gauze bandages are not used twice.
Mr. DavidsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the serious view of the prison officers themselves, who have to handle these things, that this practice is carried too far and that bandages are used when they are long past their practical purpose?
§ Mr. BuchananIn view of the very small saving in this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman not ask that the practice be discontinued, so that, apart from any other reason, there will be confidence in the fact that these bandages are not being so used?
§ Mr. ColvilleMy information is that the conditions are quite hygienic, but this is one of the points that I am going to look into.
§ 42. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will carry out in Scotland the various reforms for prisoners serving sentences as outlined by the Home Secretary for prisoners in England; and whether he can state the reasons why he has not carried out any of the reforms in Scotland?
§ Mr. ColvilleMany of the reforms referred to are already in operation in Scotland and others are under consideration.
§ Mr. BuchananWhy cannot the Scottish Office introduce these reforms, which have been in operation for some time in England?
§ Mr. ColvilleI understand that the hon. Member will raise this matter later, and I should prefer to deal with it then.
§ Sir J. NallMay I ask whether, in view of all these reforms, it is still considered useful to send persons to gaol at all?
§ Mr. ColvilleIn certain circumstances it is.