Prisons (Reform) (Hansard, 2 December 1987)

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce reform into Scottish prisons following the recent outbreaks of violence at Scottish prisons.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 27 October 1987]: My right hon. and learned Friend is currently assessing the implications of recent incidents in Scottish prisons. The Government has taken major steps to improve the operation of the Scottish prison service in recent months. The problem of overcrowding has been greatly eased this year by the availability of 350 extra places in new accommodation at Shotts prison and by the change of use of four penal establishments to transfer under-utilised places from the young offender system to adult prisons.
On 1 November new arrangements, under "Fresh Start", for staff attendance, working practices and management structures were introduced. These will make it possible to develop more flexible and effective local patterns of working.
Plans are at an advanced stage for new approaches to regimes and improved staff training to take advantage of the major initiatives which are already under way.

§ Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce reform in Scottish prisons following the recent outbreaks of violence at Scottish prisons.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1987, c. 559]: My right hon. and learned Friend is currently assessing the implications of recent incident in Scottish prisons. The Government have taken major steps to improve the operation of the Scottish prison service in recent months. The problem of overcrowding has been greatly eased this year by the availability of 350 extra places in new accommodation at Shotts prison and by the change of use of 4 penal establishments to transfer under-utilised places from the young offender system to adult prisons.
On 1 November, new arrangements under "Fresh Start", for staff attendance, working practices and management structures were introduced. These will make it possible to develop more flexible and effective local patterns of working.
Plans are at an advanced stage for new approaches to regimes and improved staff training to take advantage of the major initiatives which are already under way.