§ 29. Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the problems the prison authorities in Scotland are having with regard to the increased numbers 692W of persons staying longer in prison or remand before trial, and the larger number of persons in prison as a result of drug offences; and whether he will make a detailed investigation into the overcrowding problems in Saughton prison and elsewhere in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayFollowing a sustained rise in the level of admissions, the Scottish prison service number of inmates for 26 November 1985 reached a record level of 5,697. This is approximately 10 per cent. above the total number of places available. The main elements in this increase are larger numbers of prisoners on remand, mainly because of an increase in the length of time prisoners are being held on remand, and an increase in the number of persons convicted of drug-related offences and other serious crimes which are attracting longer sentences.
My right hon. Friend is well aware of the overcrowding and the problems associated with it. Serious overcrowding exists in four establishments, Barlinnie, Edinburgh and Inverness prisons and Longriggend remand institution. Unless numbers decline from their present levels, no significant relief is likely to be achieved until the refurbished Greenock prison and phase II of Shotts prison become available next March and in March 1987.