HC Deb 19 May 1986 vol 98 c2W
Mr. Favell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the ratio of prisoners to prison officers in Scotland.

Mr. John Mackay

On the latest date for which information is kept centrally, there were 5,645 prisoners and 2,645 prison officers, exclusive of governor grades, in the Scottish prison service, giving a ratio of 2.13 to 1.

Mr. Favell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average number of hours per day spent by prisoners locked in their cells in Scotland.

Mr. John Mackay

Information is not held centrally in the form requested. Different routines obtain in different establishments and for different categories of prisoner. In general however, convicted prisoners have periods of work, exercise and recreation out of their cells each day. Remand prisoners have a period of exercise and, normally. some recreation each day. The majority of prisoners, remand as well as convicted, take their meals in dining halls rather than in their own cells.