§ 9. Mr. Kenneth Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many boys under 16 and from 16 to 21 years of age, respectively, have been imprisoned in Barlinnie Prison on remand during the last 12 months for which statistics are available; how many of the same age 513 groups have been at this prison awaiting transfer to Polmont Borstal Institution; what were the maximum average and minimum periods, respectively, spent in prison awaiting such transfer; whether it is still the practice of some of these lads to be kept in their cells for the whole of the 24 hours except for the two breaks for exercise; and whether he will, at the earliest possible moment, provide alternative accommodation for these lads and in the meantime arrange that no boy or young man sentenced to Borstal is kept in solitary confinement in prison.
Mr. JohnstonAs the answer is lengthy and contains a number of figures I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LindsayCan my right hon. Friend say whether it is true that these young people are sent to Barlinnie Prison, untried, and that they spend two or three months there and mix with adults, many of whom are of a most undesirable kind?
Mr. JohnstonI would prefer that my hon. Friend first studied the long and rather elaborate statement I propose to give in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill not my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of visiting Barlinnie Prison? I was there last Sunday and the Sunday before. It is very necessary that the Secretary of State should visit the prison because, owing to the war, it is now not only a civil prison, but a military prison.
Mr. JohnstonI will be glad if my hon. Friend will give me any information at his disposal, after which I will consider adopting his suggestion.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The number of lads under 16 detained in Barlinnie Prison on remand by order of a court in 1943 was 58. The number between 16 and 21 was 957. During the same year 212 youths between 16 and 21 were detained there pending transfer to Polmont Borstal Institution, the minimum, average and maximum periods of detention having been one day, 32 days and 75 days respectively. Boys awaiting transfer to Borstal must, under the relative statutory rules, be segregated from ordinary prisoners. Owing to the serious 514 shortage of accommodation and staff under war conditions, it is not at present possible to provide opportunities for Borstal cases to work or have recreation in association at Barlinnie, but apart from the normal periods of outdoor exercise they are provided with light work and books. Remand cases receive the same treatment as other untried prisoners. A new Borstal Institution would have been built but for the war, and the difficulties of accommodation have been increased by war conditions. Borstal cases are transferred to Polmont as soon as possible and the waiting period in recent months has been reduced. The possibility of temporary arrangements to relieve pressure at Polmont is being actively reviewed.