1. Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people received custodial sentences in Scotland in 1980; and how this compares with the figures for 1979.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Malcolm Rifkind)In 1979, 8,863 people received direct custodial sentences from the Scottish courts; a further 6,027 were received into prisons or young offenders' institutions in default of payment of a fine. These numbers are abnormally low in comparasion with earlier years because of industrial action by court staff in 1979. Corresponding figures for 1980 are not yet available.
Mr. BrownMy question is partly answered, but does it not show that the Government are driving people to crime? Is not that a direct result of high unemployment and the attacks on living standards? Will not yesterday's soup-kitchen Budget drive people to crime? Is it not correct that the real criminals are in the Government? The working people are angry—and they have every right to be—and they will fight back.
§ Mr. RifkindI am not sure why abnormally low figures for 1979, because of industrial action, show the effects of the Government's policy in 1981. If the hon. Gentleman has the remotest iota of evidence to support his curious theory, I am sure that not only I but his hon. Friends will be pleased to see it.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerDoes my hon. Friend agree that once people are incarcerated in prison they should not escape, and that if they do any inquiry that follows that escape should ensure that people working in the prison service feel that the inquiry has been fair and just?
§ Mr. RifkindI agree with my hon. Friend. I have no reason to believe that the procedures that are applied whenever an inquiry is needed following a prison escape are not fair and just to all those who might be affected.