§ Mr. McGovernasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the terms of prison rule No. 291 governing visits to prisoners, and the extent to which this rule is complied with in Barlinnie prison?
Mr. Wedderburn:The terms of Rule No. 291 which relates to untried prisoners, are as follow:
Every endeavour shall be made to provide that such prisoners shall not, when being visited, be exposed to the view of the friends of other prisoners, and to prevent the friends of one prisoner from coming into contact with the friends of another while in the prison.No prisoner at Barlinnie prison when being visited is exposed to the view of the friends of any other prisoner. A waiting room is provided inside the prison boundaries for the convenience of friends who are about to visit prisoners, and, although a prison officer is present, some measure of contact between visitors is inevitable.