§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards sleep-in duty as a means of providing night shift coverage within the Scottish Prison Service; and how many establishments and personnel are currently involved.
§ Mr. William RossI regard the deployment of prison officers on sleep-in duty as entirely appropriate in certain circumstances. One officer is so deployed regularly at each of three male establishments and, as required, in certain small female units.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards senior staff within the Scottish Prison Service occupying designated quarters.
§ Mr. William RossI am satisfied that for the effective management of the Scottish Prison Service it is necessary to require certain key members of staff at penal establishments to live in houses designated for the purpose.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a progress report on his plans for upgrading Prison Service houses.
§ Mr. William RossOver £250,000 has been spent on the house upgrading programme, including upwards of £200,000 in the current financial year on houses at Edinburgh Prison. Work on the programme will continue as quickly as the availability of resources permits.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to ensure that the Scottish Prison Officers' Association has the right to negotiate direct with the Treasury without having to go through the English Prison Officers' Association.
§ Mr. William RossThe arrangement by which the Scottish Prison Officers' Association is normally represented by 703W its England and Wales counterparts in pay negotiations with the Civil Service Department was set up by the Association itself and is not a matter for the Government.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy towards the civilianisation of officers' grades within the Scottish Prison Service.
§ Mr. William RossMy policy is to seek as in the past to fill certain specialist posts in the Scottish Prison Service by members of the uniformed grades who are suitably qualified.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects publication of the Report of the Working Party which is examining recruitment to governor grade within the Scottish Prison Service.
§ Mr. William RossThe recommendations contained in the Working Party's report are being studied and will be discussed shortly with the Scottish Prison Officers' Association. The report will be made available to the interested parties and I see no reason to publish it.