HC Deb 20 June 1994 vol 245 c59W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to amend the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 17 June 1994]: The draft revised Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules were issued for consultation last September. Consideration of the comments received has almost been completed and it is intended to lay the new rules before Parliament in the next few weeks.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the attendance records of individual members of prison visiting committees for the last two years for which figures are available.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 17 June 1994]: Detailed attendance figures for all individual visiting committee members are not collated centrally and any exercise to obtain comprehensive data would involve disproportionate costs.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have been undertaken with the local authorities in Scotland about proposed changes in the membership of prison visiting committees.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 17 June 1994]: The draft revised Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules, which contain proposals for changes in the constitution of prison visiting committees, were sent to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in September 1993 as part of a comprehensive consultation exercise.