HC Deb 26 July 1989 vol 157 c750W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum value of phonecard permitted for purchase by prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

At Barlinnie and Perth prisons, where phonecards are in use, £1 cards are available for purchase by prisoners as necessary. Telephones for prisoners in other establishments accept coins.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the ratio of telephones to prisoners at(a) each prison, (b) Cornton Vale prison for women and (c) young offender institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is set out in the table. A range of factors bear on the number of telephones available for prisoners at establishments, including the level of demand for their use.

Ratio of telephones to number of prisoners/young offenders
Prisons
(a) Aberdeen 1:70
Barlinnie 1:113
Dungavel 1:53
Edinburgh 1:57
Friarton 1:73
Glenochil 1:39
Greenock 1:87
Inverness 1:91
Low Moss 1:64
Noranside 1:38
Penninghame 1:30
Perth 1:47
Peterhead 1—
Shotts 1:55
(b) Cornton Vale 1:44
Young offenders institutions
(c) Castle Huntley 1:61
Dumfries 1:129
Glenochil 1:127
Polmont 21:391
1 Telephones for prisoners have not been installed at Peterhead.
2 Consideration is being given to the installation of additional telephones at Polmont.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which prisons with authority to install telephones for prisoners are still without telephones; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Telephones for prisoners have not been installed at Peterhead prison.