Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received representations from Jimmy Boyle of the Gateway Exchange, Edinburgh, about an inquiry into the Scottish prison disturbances; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMr. Boyle wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 23 February about a questionnaire which Gateway Exchange had sent to certain prisoners in Scottish penal establishments. This questionnaire was said to be part of an inquiry which Gateway Exchange proposed to conduct on conditions in Scottish prisons.
My Department had not been notified or asked about the questionnaire before it was sent to individual prisoners. I do not regard Gateway Exchange as having any special locus, nor have I any expectation that such an inquiry would be pertinent.