HC Deb 22 November 1938 vol 341 cc1501-2
68. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his intention, at an early date, to make any changes in the prison system in Scotland; and, if so, the nature of any such changes?

Mr. Colville

Yes, Sir. As the answer is a long one, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

  1. 1. So far as changes in the prison system involve legislation, the hon. Member will be aware of the proposals of the Criminal justice Bill as applied to Scotland.
  2. 2. So far as other changes are concerned, the position is an follows:—

Wage-earning and Smoking.

During the next financial year, a wage-earning system, with a consequential scheme for allowing smoking, will be introduced in all Scottish prisons. The system will be generally similar to the system which is now being operated in a number of selected English prisons.

Temporary removal of long-term prisoners to other prisons to facilitate visits being paid by relatives.

In the past, transfers of long-term prisoners in Scotland from one prison to another for the purpose of receiving visits have been limited to cases where they have made application for special facilities to get into touch with possible employers or relatives who would help them to find work on liberation. Transfers for this purpose will continue to be permitted and, in addition, there will be applied to Scotland the system now in operation in England whereby long-term prisoners who have completed four years of their sentence can be temporarily transferred once a year, if they so desire, to a prison where it will be convenient to receive accumulated visits from relatives or friends.

Letters.

Convicts may receive and write one letter and receive a visit (a) on their reception in prison, (b) after two months of the sentence has been served, and (c) monthly thereafter. They are also allowed to receive and write a letter in lieu of a visit.

Ordinary prisoners may be allowed a letter regarding urgent business arrangements on their reception in prison. After serving two months of the sentence they may receive and write a letter and receive a visit. The same privileges are allowed once a month thereafter. They may also receive or write a letter in lieu of a visit. In both cases, special letters are also allowed on good cause being shown. The question of allowing letters to be written and received more frequently is to he considered by the Prisons Department in consultation with the Prison Commission for England and Wales.

Libraries.

Since February, 1936, over 8,000 books, nearly 7,000 of which are fiction, have been received as gifts and added to prison libraries. Many volumes of magazines have also been received. At Peterhead there are at present over 1,600 books, approximately 250 of which were added during the first six months of this year. The Governor of Peterhead Prison is in touch with the public libraries to see whether further books can be presented.

Electric lighting in prisons.

By the end of next year there will be electric light in all prisons except Kirkwall and Lerwick. The installation at Peterhead Prison, however, will not be entirely completed until the following year.