§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a detailed statement on the result of the inquiry into the riot which took place at Peterhead prison on Tuesday 10 January;
(2) if, in view of the recurring number of incidents involving inmates at Peterhead prison, he will set up an investigation to inquire into all circumstances which are causing these riots and publish the result in the Official Report;
(3) if he is satisfied with the security at Peterhead prison in the light of the number of riots which take place there; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramI am awaiting a report from the governor who has been seeking to ascertain what triggered off the incident. He will also be reporting on what, if any, action might be taken to prevent a recurrence. When I have studied the governor's report, I shall decide whether any further inquiry is necessary and whether there are steps which can be taken to improve the overall security of the prison. I shall write to my hon. Friend in due course.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional hours overtime were necessary by prison officers during the riot at Peterhead prison on 10 January; and how many officers were called upon to perform overtime duties.
§ Mr. AncramFrom 9 pm on Monday 9 January until 6 pm on Wednesday 11 January overtime was worked by some 216 members of staff. The total number of overtime hours worked in this period was of the order of 1,800.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers required medical treatment during and after the riot of prisoners which took place at Peterhead prison on 10 January.
§ Mr. AncramAn officer damaged his hand when closing a door in the course of the incident. Other than that there were no injuries.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners required medical treatment during and after the riot which took place at Peterhead prison on 10 January.
§ Mr. AncramThree prisoners sustained minor cuts and bruises, but only one required treatment. None of the injuries sustained was a result of contact with staff.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the £1 million modernisation of a section of Peterhead prison will be completed; and if he has any plans to continue with the modernisation of other prison blocks within the current year.
308W
§ Mr. AncramThe programme of refurbishment being undertaken at Peterhead prison at a cost of £1.4 million was scheduled for completion by the end of 1984 but will now require to be extended by three to four months to allow for repairing the damage caused in the incident of 9 and 10 January 1984. Upgrading of the one remaining hall to be improved is included in the programme.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the most recent date on which Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons visited Peterhead prison; and for what date his next visit is scheduled.
§ Mr. AncramHer Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons carried out a full inspection of Peterhead prison in September 1981. His practice is, however, to pay visits to establishments between inspections, and two such visits were paid to Peterhead, in January and November of last year. His programme of inspections for 1984 has not yet been drawn up, but it will certainly include an inspection of Peterhead, probably in the early autumn. This would not, of course, rule out the possibility of an earlier visit in accordance with the practice outlined above.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has established the cost of the damage caused to prison buildings after the riot which took place at Peterhead prison on 10 January; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe initial assessment of the cost of materials required to make good the damage caused in the riot at Peterhead prison on 9 and 10 January 1984 is £30,000 to £40,000. Repair work is proceeding and it is hoped to have the hall mainly affected ready for reoccupation in three to four months' time.