§ Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new houses erected in Perth Prison village since 1928; if any painting or redecorating has been done to the houses which were erected in 1927; and is he aware of the departmental order to the effect that warders' quarters will be painted and decorated every eight years at the expense of the State, and that this ruling forbids occupants to paint and redecorate their quarters during that time when considered necessary by them?
§ Sir G. COLLINSEight new houses have been erected in Perth Prison village since 1928. The outside doors of the eight houses erected in 1927 have been repainted, and the interiors are to be redecorated this year. Prison instructions provide that the interior painting, papering and cleaning, etc., of officers' quarters may be done every eight years. Redecoration is done at the expense of the State, and officers are not permitted to carry out papering and painting on their own account as this was found in practice to be unsatisfactory.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that one family has been living in a single room at Perth Prison warders' quarters for over six weeks since the structural alterations commenced; that a wife and three children in another house have vacated their quarters for over four weeks as structural alterations were proceeding in every room; and is he satisfied that the utmost expedition has governed the work and that space adjacent to the buildings could not have been utilised more economically as sculleries instead of reducing the floor area of houses comprising three or four rooms, causing undue inconvenience and expense to the families concerned?
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§ Sir G. COLLINSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, the family in question consisting of an officer, his wife, and one child aged eight. As regards the second part, I am informed that structural alterations were not begun in every room until after the officer had voluntarily removed his wife and family. The scheme of alterations was only adopted after careful consideration of all the circumstances, and I am satisfied that there has been no avoidable delay in its execution. The progress of the work has been slower than was originally anticipated because of special circumstances outwith the control of the Prisons Department, but it is expected that the structural alterations will be completed this week and that the painting will be completed in a fortnight.