HC Deb 03 July 1961 vol 643 c83W
73. Mr. David James

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have a survey made of now uninhabited islands off the west coast of Scotland with a view to reestablishing prison colonies where long-term prisoners could enjoy a relative amount of freedom and earn their own keep without danger to the general public.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have considered with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland the use of small islands as prison colonies, but the disadvantages of locating a prison in an isolated spot are held to outweigh such advantage as there might be to security.