§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he wizll investigate allegations made by the Peterhead prisoners' support committee in Gzlasgow of assaults by prison warders on inmates and destruction of their property.
§ Mr. AncramThe Peterhead prisoners' support committee has not brought any such allegations to my attention. If this committee wishes to make allegations of criminal conduct by prison officers it should bring them to the attention of the police or the procurator fiscal. My right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate has overall responsibility for the investigation of allegations of crime in Scotland.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to alleviate problems resulting from overcrowding of cells, to reduce censorship of letters and to assess the necessity of the installation of new control units in Peterhead prison.
§ Mr. AncramMeasures to remedy overcrowding in the Scottish penal system are already in hand and, provided the inmate population does not rise significantly above its present level, overcrowding should be virtually eliminated when phase II of Shotts prison becomes
350W
Health Board Total Hospital Community Doctors Dentists Doctors Dentists 30 September 1975 Scotland 5,580.5 4,684.2 184.4 417 295 Argyll and Clyde 324.6 265.4 1.2 35 23 Ayrshire and Arran 197.9 161.4 2.5 20 14 available for occupation early in 1987. Censorship of mail was abolished at two young offenders' institutions last year and the need for censorship where it is currently undertaken will be kept under review. There are no control units in Peterhead prison and we see no reason to introduce them. I am satisfied that the new 10-cell unit and the new regime for 'B' hall at Peterhead prison are necessary. These measures have been taken for the benefit both of the staff and the majority of the prisoners, who wish to serve their sentences quietly.