§ 22. Sir C. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, since the work upon Peterhead Harbour, which has provided employment for 70 years, is now completed, to what extent he has considered using good conduct prisoners from Peterhead for other public works, including urgently needed repairs to harbours of refuge at Stonehaven and Gourdon in Kincardineshire and to the docks at Montrose.
§ Mr. MaclayAt present prisoners at Peterhead are fully employed inside the prison, and for security reasons it would not be practicable to employ them on works outside the immediate vicinity of Peterhead.
§ Sir C. Thornton-KemsleyHas my right hon. Friend had his attention called to a speech made in Glasgow by the Governor of Barlinnie Prison recently, in which he is reported to have said that many young men entering prison had never been in work since they left school? Would it not be a good thing to help them to find employment later on— which is the second point made by the Governor—if they could be given useful work while serving their term of imprisonment?
§ Mr. MaclayI have not had that article drawn to my attention, but I have noted what my hon. Friend has said.
§ Mr. T. FraserI hope that the Secretary of State has noted that his hon. Friend thinks that the only way to get a job in Scotland is to go to prison.