§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of prisoners held in Scottish prisons in each of the last 10 years under the following categories: remand prisoners, fine defaulters, other short term prisoners and long term prisoners.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe figures are as follows: 545W
Average daily prison population 1977–86 Type of inmate 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Remand 706 728 691 705 746 844 863 942 1,092 1,017 Defaulter 286 309 293 386 231 234 228 259 309 330 Other short term 2,282 2,271 1,855 2,050 1,863 2,121 2,268 1,938 1,965 1,951 Long term 1,597 1,754 1,746 1,719 1,678 1,692 1,692 1,614 1,907 2,289 Total 4,871 5,062 4,585 4,860 4,518 4,891 5,052 4,753 5,273 5,588 Notes:
(1) The figures are for all inmates in Scottish penal establishments including under-21's.
(2) "Defaulter" includes fine and compensation order defaulters.
(3) "Short term" includes those serving sentences of less than 18 months, together with those serving borstal sentences.
(4) "Long term" includes those serving fixed sentences of 18 months or longer and indeterminate sentences.
(5) Sub-totals may not add to totals duc to rounding.
§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the objectives of the prison system in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe following statement, which remains valid, was issued on 30 October 1985 to all staff in the Scottish prison service.
"The task of the Scottish Prison Service is:—
- (i) to keep in custody untried or unsentenced prisoners, and to ensure that they are available to be presented to court for trial or sentence:
- (ii) to keep in custody, with such degree of security as is appropriate, having regard to the nature of the individual prisoner and his offence, sentenced prisoners for the duration of their sentence or for such shorter time as the Secretary of State may determine in cases where he has discretion;
- (iii) to provide for prisoners as full a life as is consistent with the facts of custody, in particular making available the physical necessities of life; care for physical and mental health; advice and help with personal problems; work, education, skill training, physical exercise and recreation; and opportunity to practice their religion;
- (iv) to promote and preserve the self-respect of prisoners;
- (v) to enable prisoners to retain links with family and community; and
- (vi) to encourage them to respond and contribute positively to society on discharge."