§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people currently serving custodial sentences need to be released from prison in order to reduce the numbers to an acceptable level in Scotland.
§ Mr. RifkindBy " acceptable level " I take my hon. Friend to mean the level at which there is no overcrowding.
The number of inmate places available in Scottish penal establishments—4,906 male and 219 female—exceeds the total inmate population at present—4,701 male and 159 female as at 29 April 1980—but because of fluctuations in the demand on different establishments, a degree of overcrowding tends to occur particularly in remand accommodation and certain male prisons.
The Bail (Scotland) Act 1980, which came into effect earlier this year, has already reduced the number of remand prisoners and there are provisions in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill at present before Parliament which are directed at achieving some reduction in the number of persons in custody.