HC Deb 21 February 1969 vol 778 cc178-80W
Mr. Donald Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scottish prisons are presently serving sentences in excess of six months, three years and 10 years, respectively.

Mr. Ross

The statistics are not maintained quite in the form requested. The position at 18th February 1969 was as follows:—

Prisoners and inmates of young offenders institutions
Sentences of six months and up to three years 1,544
Sentences of over three years and up to ten years 462
Sentences of over ten years 21
Life sentences 120

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places are available in Scotland in open prisons; and how many men were in the training for freedom unit at Perth Prison at the latest convenient date.

Mr. Ross

63 places are available in Penninghame Prison, the only open prison in Scotland. There are at present six prisoners in the training for freedom hostel at Perth Prison.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the figure per head of the population spent in Scotland on police and prison services in the last financial year.

Mr. Ross

For 1967–68 the figures are:

£ s. d.
Police 4 15 8
Prisons 14 8

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the ratio of staff to prisoners in Scottish prisons; and what is the figure at Barlinnie, Saughton, Peterhead and Craiginches Prisons, respectively.

Mr. Ross

The ratio of staff to inmates in Scottish prisons and young offenders institutions is 1 to 3.12; and at particular establishments, as follows:

Barlinnie Prison and Young Offenders Institution 1 to 4.99
Edinburgh Prison 1 to 2.70
Peterhead Prison 1 to 2.37
Aberdeen Prison 1 to 2.75

NOTE. At Barlinnie the staff are common to the prison and the young offenders institution.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the capital sum spent on Scottish prisons and penal institutions in the last three financial years and the estimated expenditure in the years 1968–69 and 1969–70.

Mr. Ross

The figures are as follows:

£
1965–66 871,900
1966–67 917,652
1967–68 811,182
1968–69 (estimate) 1,062,000
1969–70 (estimate) 888,000

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were serving sentences in Scottish prisons at the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable figure three, five and 10 years ago.

Mr. Ross

On 31st December, 1968 there were in Scotland 3,111 persons serving sentences of imprisonment or detention in a young offenders institution. The comparable figures three, five and ten years previously were 2,246, 2,311 and 1,974.

NOTE.—Persons under 21 who would have been sentenced to imprisonment before January, 1965, are now sent to young offenders institutions.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates to be the number of prisoners in Scotland presently eligible for parole; how many have been recommended for consideration by the local review committee since the inception of the scheme; and how many have been released on parole during that period.

Mr. Ross

At present 206 prisoners and young offenders are eligible for consideration for parole. All cases are considered by local review Committees and to date 773 cases have been so considered. 120 of these have been referred to the Parole Board, on whose recommendation 49 have been released and two more will be released shortly.