HC Deb 12 December 1986 vol 107 cc302-3W
Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is the intention during the investigation at Peterhead prison being carried out by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to invite representations from the Peterhead branch of the Scottish Prison Officers Association; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has already interviewed a large number of individual members of staff of Her Majesty's prison Peterhead in connection with his current investigation. It is his intention to meet also representatives of the local branch of the Scottish Prison Officers Association, if they so wish.

Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names, qualifications and previous backgrounds of the persons who have been selected to assist Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons in the investigation which is be carried out at Peterhead prison.

Mr. Lang

Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons is being assisted in his investigation at Her Majesty's prison Peterhead by Her Majesty's deputy chief inspector of prisons, Mr. W. T. Finlayson, and by Mr. R. R. H. Glen on secondment from his post as governor of Her Majesty's prison Dungavel.

Mr. Finlayson has very wide experience within the Scottish prison service, having joined as an officer in 1953. He has served at a number of establishments and has been governor-in-charge at Longriggend remand unit and Her Majesty's institution Cornton Vale as well as having been principal of the Scottish prison service college. He is a governor class I.

Mr. Glen, who is a governor class III, joined the Scottish prison service as an assistant governor in 1969. He has served at a number of establishments and at headquarters and has been governor-in-charge at Her Majesty's young offenders institution Castle Huntly and at Her Majesty's prison Dungavel, where he is currently serving.

Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to add to the team chosen to assist Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons in his inquiry at Peterhead prison a person with no previous association with the prison service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

Until he took up his present post, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons had himself no previous connection of any kind with the Scottish prison service. He is, however, considering whether he should bring in a person or persons from outside the Scottish prison service on an ad hoc basis to assist him with particular aspects of his investigation at Her Majesty's prison Peterhead.