§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the number of prisoners' places available at Peterhead prison and the number of prisoners housed there in the years 1979 to 1986, giving the details for each year.
§ Mr. LangThe information requested is:
Year Places Average number of prisoners 1979 354 274 1980 354 231 1981 354 213 1982 329 197 1983 281 196 1984 281 185 1985 281 188 1986 281 182
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the number of prison officers employed at Peterhead prison; and whether this is fully up to establishment.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons in Scotland into the recent disturbance at Peterhead prison.
§ Mr. LangAs I indicated in my reply of 17 November at c.53 to the hon. Member, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons for Scotland has been asked to complete his investigation into complaints about conditions and treatment of prisoners at Peterhead prison, and report to the Secretary of State as quickly as possible. It is for HMCIP himself to decide when his independent investigation is sufficiently complete for the report to be submitted. I know that HMCIP is well aware of the importance and urgency of reporting as quickly as possible.