§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a full statement on all the circumstances under which prisoners serving life sentences, and other prisoners, respectively, are allowed to make visits outside prison; under what circumstances prisoners serving life sentences and other prisoners, respectively, are allowed out of prison to have lunch or other meals, with their sponsor, or other person; what general differences in treatment are given to persons serving life sentence in different prisons in Scotland and if he will conduct a review into the way life prisoners are now treated in Scottish prisons.
§ Mr. YoungerPrisoners serving determinate and indeterminate sentences are allowed visits outside prison at any time during their sentences for strong compassionate reasons, that is to visit a near relative who is dangerously ill or to attend the funeral of a near relative. The degree of security applying to such visits is determined by the security category of the prisoner concerned.
401WA prisoner serving three years or more may be granted a home visit within the last six months of his sentence. Prisoners serving between two and three years become eligible for home visit in the last three months of sentence. These visits, which can be for a maximum of five clear days at home, are a privilege, not a right, and are subject to the satisfactory conduct and industry of the prisoner and to his domestic circumstances.
Prisoners nearing the end of their sentence, and life sentence prisoners who have been granted a provisional release date, who are proceeding to outside employment under the training for freedom scheme are allowed a five-day home visit before being transferred to the training for freedom hostel. While on training for freedom, prisoners are allowed up to a maximum of 12 hours a week outside leave and a weekend leave every six weeks. Prisoners are also allowed outside leave to attend an interview with a prospective employer.
At certain prisons, a special escorted leave scheme is in operation under which selected prisoners, including life sentence prisoners, are allowed to visit their homes or elsewhere in the company of a prison officer or, on visits after the first of such visits, a prison visitor. Special arrangements apply to local visits by prisoners at Penninghame open prison.
Employment Office Numbers registered as unemployed Date area Males Females Young people Total February 1980 Edinburgh 6,377 2,622 669 9,668 Leith 2,388 792 — 3,130 Portobello 1,378 466 — 1,844 Musselburgh 778 384 77 1,239 Edinburgh TTWA 12,746 5,257 981 18,984 February 1975 Edinburgh 3,991 596 389 4,976 Leith 1,585 111 — 1,696 Portobello 867 86 — 953 Musselburgh 577 131 73 781 Edinburgh TTWA 7,020 924 462 8,406 February 1970 Edinburgh 3,529 493 155 4,177 Leith 1,377 123 — 1,500 Portobello 652 79 — 731 Musselburgh 616 69 40 725 Edinburgh TTWA 7,370 1,003 269 8,642 February 1965 Edinburgh 2,265 473 — 2,879 Leith 613 91 — 704 Portobello 199 40 — 239 Musselburgh 305 155 21 481 Edinburgh TTWA 3,780 936 208 4,924 The figures for young people are those registered as unemployed at careers offices. Young people under the age of
402WThe general differences in treatment given to persons serving life sentences in different prisons in Scotland are determined by the nature and purpose of the establishment in which they are serving. Life sentence prisoners can progress through the system from the closed conditions at Peterhead, Aberdeen, Perth and Edinburgh to the more relaxed environment at Dungavel and to open conditions at Penninghame. There is no need, at present, for a special review into the way life sentence prisoners are now treated in Scottish prisons: these arrangements are under constant review.
There is an arrangement in respect of the Barlinnie special unit by which an inmate periodically makes an escorted outside visit during which he undertakes shopping for food and materials on behalf of the inmates.