HC Deb 01 March 1989 vol 148 cc238-9W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many penal institutions in Scotland have visiting committees; and if he will list the numbers serving in each such committee.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Every penal institution in Scotland is served by a visiting committee. The table lists the numbers serving on each:

Prison visiting committees
Establishment Number of members
Aberdeen 12
Barlinnie 35
Cornton Vale 29
Dungavel 13
Edinburgh 25
Glenochil 22
Inverness 14
Low Moss 11
Noranside 12
Penninghame 14
Perth 22
Peterhead 13
Shotts 13

Young offenders institution visiting committees
Establishment Number of members
Castle Huntly 10
Cornton Vale 10
Dumfries 11
Glenochil 12
Greenock 9
Polmont 7

Friarton prison is served by a sub-group of Perth prison visiting committee. Longriggend remand institution is served by a sub-group of Barlinnie prison visiting committee.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to encourage attendance at meetings of visiting committees of penal institutions in Scotland.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I am anxious to encourage members of visiting committees to play an effective role in the work of their committees. In January 1989, the Scottish Home and Health Department organised a conference at which every visiting committee was given the opportunity to be represented. Delegates to the conference discussed the duties of visiting committee members and the issue of training. A comprehensive manual of guidance for all visiting committee members has been prepared by the Scottish Home and Health Department and will be issued shortly. This emphasises the need for regular attendance by members at penal establishments. Moreover the Scottish Home and Health Department gave support to the establishment, in September 1988, of an Association of Visiting Committees for Scotland, with the aim of encouraging and supporting visiting committee members in their duties.

Establishment Complement at 1 April 1988 Staff currently in post or training1 Difference plus/minus
1. Aberdeen 104.0 110 +6.0
2. Barlinnie 485.0 497 +12.0
3. BSU 16.0 15 -1.0
4. Castle Huntly 67.0 64 -3.0
5. Cornton Vale 179.5 184 +4.5
6. Dumfries 112.5 121 +8.5
7. Dungavel 67.0 63 -4.0
8. Edinburgh 360.0 383 +23.0
9. Friarton 48.0 51 +3.0
10. Glenochil 387.5 380 -7.5
11. Greenock 146.5 155 +8.5
12. Inverness 86.5 97 +10.5
13. Longriggend 149.5 155 +5.5
14. Low Moss 121.0 124 +3.0
15. Noranside 63.0 64 +1.0
16. Penninghame 33.5 31 -2.5
17. Perth 319.0 329 +10.0
18. Peterhead 260.5 270 +9.5
19. Polmont 232.5 252 +19.5
20. Shotts 325.5 331 +5.5
21. SPSC 29.0 28 -1.0
TOTAL 35,93.0 3,704 +111.0
1 Staff in post or in training exceed the complement because of the need to anticipate the reduction of prison officers' contracted hours by 2 hours per officer per week from 1 April 1989.