HC Deb 12 February 1996 vol 271 cc451-3W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of the prison population in Scotland is currently held in(a) secure prisons and (b) open prisons and related units; [14004]

(2) how many prisoners are currently held in open prisons and related units in Scotland. [14006]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of the questions relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your two Questions relating to the current prison population in Scotland. The information as at Friday 2 February 1996 is given in the table.

Number of prisoners Percentage1
Secure establishments
Aberdeen 173 3
Barlinnie 1,070 20
Cornton Vale 171 3
Dumfries 135 2
Edinburgh 593 11
Friarton 65 1
Glenochil 531 10
Greenock 230 4
Inverness 122 2
Longriggend 155 3
Low Moss 319 6
Perth 456 8
Peterhead 194 4
Peterhead Unit 4 2
Polmont 415 8
Shotts 448 8
Shotts Unit 9 2
National Induction Centre, Shotts 27 2
Sub-total 5,117 93
Open establishments
Castle Huntly 105 2
Dungavel 89 2
Noranside 114 2
Penninghame 59 1
Sub-total 367 7
Total 5,484 100
1 Components may not add to totals due to rounding.
2 Less than 0.5.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the relative cost and latest estimate of keeping a prisoner in(a) secure prisons establishments and (b) open prisons and related units. [14005]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the relative cost and latest estimate of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related units. The average cost per prisoner place at HMP Prisons in Scotland in 1994–95 was £23,324 for secure prisons and £18,046 for open prisons and is estimated to be £23,217 and £18,150 respectively in 1995–96. This has been calculated as total net expenditure (excluding capital, Headquarters and other central costs) divided by the average number of places available.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources have been made available to the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last two financial years; what resources are proposed for the next financial year to support the drug reduction and rehabilitation programme; and if he will make a statement. [14581]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. James Wallace, dated 12 February 1996: The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive, Mr Frizzell, to reply to your Question about resources made available to the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last two financial years and resources for drug reduction and rehabilitation programmes in 1996–97. I am replying to his absence from the office. The total net resources made available to the Scottish Prison Service was £162.5 million in 1994–95 (of which £15.4 million was capital) and £166.0 million in 1995–96 (of which £16.8 million was capital). The total net resources for 1996–97 is £173.9 million (of which £16.8 million is capital). Resources for 1996–97 will be allocated to governors of establishments on the basis of their strategic plans for all purposes: provision for drug reduction and rehabilitation programmes is not separately identified but is taken into account as appropriate in the budgets allocated for staffing, medical expenses etc.