HC Deb 08 July 1987 vol 119 cc191-2W
Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount was spent in each Scottish prison on training. educational and cultural activity for each year since 1982.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information relating to each establishment is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The totals for the Scottish Prison Service as a whole for the years in question are as follows.

The heading "Education and Cultural Activity" includes the salaries of teachers employed by local authorities and working in prisons and the purchases of educational materials and items for sport and recreation; training includes materials and equipment for vocational training courses but not the salaries of departmental instructors, the comparison of whose costs is not readily available.

Education and cultural activity1 Training
£ £
1982–83 526,000 323,000
1983–84 498,000 340,000
1984–85 684,000 357,000
1985–86 607,000 352,000
1986–87 717,000 413,000
1 Reductions in expenditure in some years reflect variations in the invoicing for teachers salaries by local authorities and not reductions in the level of service.

Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers employed in the medical services in Scottish prisons for each year since 1982.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is as follows at 1 April in each year:

Medical Officers Prison Officer Nursing Sisters
Year Full-time Part-Time Nursing Staff
1982 2 20 90 2
1983 3 20 89 1
1984 3 21 88 1
1985 3 21 91 1
1986 3 22 89 1
1987 3 23 94

Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the numbers employed in administration in the Scottish prison system for each year since 1982.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The annual report of the Scottish Prison Service, "Prisons in Scotland", gives details of staff numbers at penal establishments in the categories of governor grades, chaplains and visiting chaplains, medical officers, office and store staff; prison officers and others. Staff at the more senior grade have roles which are both administrative and operational. The latest published report covers the year to 31 December 1985. At 31 December 1986 the equivalent numbers were:

Number
Governor Grades 90
Chaplains 57
Medical Officers 26
Office and Store 205
Officers 2,640
Others 231

Policy and general oversight of penal establishments is exercised by SHHD prisons group. The number of staff in post in the years 1982 to 1986 at 31 December was:

Number
1982 137
1983 126.5
1984 130.5
1985 141.5
1986 139