§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have discussions with the General Secretary and office bearers of the Scottish Prison Officers Association to discuss the draft interim report of the working party on alternative regions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe draft interim report of the working party on alternative regimes has not yet been agreed by the members of the working party.
I met members of the trade union side of the Scottish prison service, including representatives of the Scottish Prison Officers' Association, on Friday 23 January and we had useful and wide-ranging discussions on the problems facing the Scottish prison service, including the problems of handling difficult prisoners. My Department will keep in close touch with the trade union side on any new proposals or development affecting staff in the Scottish prison service.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to appoint to his Department an additional press officer whose duties would be solely to deal with the running of the prison service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindI am considering this at present along with other prison service requirements.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of Government funding granted to Peterhead prison for general services in the years 1979 to 1986 showing each year separately.
Fish Landings at Peterhead District by United Kingdom Vessels: Landed Weight (tonnes) 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 19861 Cod 16,762 18,881 25,361 24,821 25,335 24,277 28,904 21,291 Haddock 24,330 29,630 38,568 49,538 46,565 42,336 51,586 61,122 Herring 6 13 3 + 42 689 3,415 10,324 Mackerel 23 23 48 3 2 149 16 691 Norway lobsters — 15 11 3 52 13 135 81 Queen scallops — — — — — — — — scallops — — — — — — — — 1 Estimate. Symbols:— =Nil; + =less than 0.5 tonne.