§ Mr. Alexander Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the public local inquiry into the escape from the State Hospital, Carstairs in November 1976 and the arrangements for security at that hospital.
§ Mr. MillanI received an interim report on Monday 18th July from Sheriff-Principal Reid, who was appointed to conduct the inquiry. Sheriff-Principal Reid recommends in his interim report the reintroduction of ground parole in the State Hospital, coupled with the use of photographic passes for patients granted parole within the hospital. He also makes recommendations about resumed use of the hospital's educational facilities, and commends for consideration the possibility of reinstating the privilege previously granted to patients in parole wards to sit up late to watch certain television programmes.
On my authority, the management committee of the State Hospital discussed the report at its meeting on 19th July and discussions between the management committee and staff representatives will take place to consider the possibility of imple-meeting these interim recommendations at an early date.
These matters will be covered in full in the final report which I expect to receive about September, but I have in the meantime arranged for copies of the interim report to be placed in the Library.