§ 35. Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been and are being taken to improve remand home facilities in Scotland.
§ Mr. MillanA new remand home was recently opened by Dundee Corporation and another is about to be opened by Dunbartonshire County Council. Other homes, or extensions to homes, are under construction or are being planned by the local authorities for Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
§ Mr. SmallI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, because there has been much public concern in many reports recently about the only alternative being prison. I hope that he will continue to make progress in terms of the supply of remand homes so that there is some form of disposal which does not entail someone going to prison.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question.
§ Mr. MillanMy hon. Friend will be glad to know that these proposals will give, along with the Dundee home, an extra 95 places, which makes a very substantial increase on the present accommodation of 223 places.
§ Mr. MacLennanWill my hon. Friend give consideration to the question whether the existing psychiatric facilities at remand homes in Scotland are adequate and whether more consultant psychiatrists should be attached directly to these homes?
§ Mr. MillanI doubt whether they need to be attached directly to these homes, but the general practice is that psychiatric advice is available where necessary.