Prison Officers Association (Hansard, 3 July 1996)

§ 11. Mr. McKelvey
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the Prison Officers Association to discuss working conditions and future employment prospects. [34181]

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
My right hon. Friend has asked to meet the Scottish Prison Officers Association, and will do so on 19 July.

§ Mr. McKelvey
When the Minister meets Scottish prison officers, will he discuss the proposed private prison in Bowhouse in my constituency? I welcome that proposal, but I do not welcome the fact that the prison will be run privately. Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the Coopers and Lybrand report, which was commissioned by the Home Office and which clearly shows the appalling level of violence in private prisons in England? In one such private prison, there were 34 per cent. more assaults than in a comparable non-private prison. Will he have second thoughts about the prison being run privately, and put it into the hands of Scottish prison officers instead?

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The hon. Gentleman can take it that we will ensure, through the specification, the highest standards of service in the new prison, which, as he will appreciate, will bring hundreds of jobs to his constituency—not only construction jobs but long-term jobs for the staff who will operate it. We expect that the private sector provider will recruit most of its staff in the local area. As for track records elsewhere in Britain, inspectors' reports have confirmed that private management of prisons can work well, with considerable savings to the taxpayer. None the less, the hon. Gentleman's point will be taken seriously, and we shall ensure that there are safeguards against any possibility of abuse.

§ Mr. Batiste
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Home Office is considering introducing a medal for prison officers to recognise exceptional bravery in the course of their work, rather similar to the police medal for exceptional bravery by police officers? Will he commit the Scottish Office to supporting that initiative?

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
Most certainly. I am glad to say that the Secretary of State has supported the initiative. As one who has a prison in his constituency, I have the highest regard for prison officers, who are extremely courageous in the face of adversity. The proposal is altogether wise and far-sighted.

Mr. O'Neill
I join other Members in thanking Ministers for the manner in which they handled the reception of the people from Dunblane and the Snowdrop petitioners today. They would like to see a tightening of the punishments for individuals who seek to use guns for any criminal purpose in Scotland. It should not be forgotten that, when such individuals are incarcerated, they will be in the hands of the prison officers of our country, whose morale has been dashed by the arbitrary withdrawal of parole and the like. Their job is becoming even more difficult, and there is a crisis not only of pay and conditions but of morale. The Minister must do something about that if he is to play fair by those men, who have one of the most unpleasant and difficult jobs in our country.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The hon. Gentleman is correct to call for severity for offences involving firearms, and the Scottish Prison Service certainly should be strongly supported. He should not complain too much if remission for dangerous criminals is reduced in the future, as we believe that that is not an automatic right but a privilege to be earned by good behaviour. If dangerous criminals spend longer in prison as a result, there will be fewer of them in the community.