§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from prisoners in Scottish prisons during the last five years of their desire to be separated in working parties and otherwise from particular fellow prisoners; what were the grounds of complaint in each case; what steps were taken to determine their reasonableness and to resolve the complaint; and to what extent the plan of each prison lends itself to such separations.
§ Mr. NobleI regret that this information is not available. Prisoners ask to be separated from other prisoners for various reasons and their requests, which are relatively infrequent, are normally investigated and dealt with by the governor. Provision for separation—which often takes the form of allowing a prisoner to work in his cell—can be made at all prisons.