Questions and answers

Question reference: S2W-22279

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve conditions in Dunedin Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont which were described as “basic” by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.4 of his inspection report of March 2005.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Since the time of the report significant improvements have been made to both the facilities and regime within Dunedin Hall. A new segregation unit will replace Dunedin as part of the development currently being carried out a Polmont.

Question reference: S2W-22288

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to comply with the recommendation of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 5.32 of his inspection report of May 2004 that HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont “needs to provide training for staff specific to the needs of working with their unique population” but identified as being only “partly achieved” in paragraph 12.28 of his March 2005 report.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

It should also be noted that the staff at Polmont have been praised on many occasions for the innovative approach they take to working with young people and the quality of the service they provide. Polmont recently won the first ever competition for best practice in health care in prisons, run by the World Health Organization for overall excellence of its health service.

Question reference: S2W-22280

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve the situation in Dunedin Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont which was identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.4 of his inspection report of March 2005 as having seen “little improvement in what is a very limited regime”.

Question reference: S2W-22273

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the initiative of increasing portions of food available at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont was abandoned because it “caused such an increase in cost”, as stated by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 2.4 of his inspection report of March 2005.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

There have been several local initiatives designed to change and improve the menus at Polmont, by providing both bulkier high calorific food and, by integrating vegetables in selected meals, to improve the nutritional value while remaining within the budget.

Question reference: S2W-22272

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to end the practice of slopping out for remand prisoners at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, given the view expressed by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in the preamble to his inspection report of March 2005, that “it is very upsetting that the only remand prisoners who are regularly slopping out are under 21 years of age”.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

Polmont is currently undergoing a refurbishment costing over £90 million which is due to be completed around 2007-08. As part of this redevelopment, most existing areas referred to in the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) Report will be replaced. Young people on remand are no longer held in “slopping out” accommodation, Spey Hall has already been closed and a purpose built activity centre for programmes and work has been opened. A second activity area and further accommodation are planned for next year. As part of the development of the regime at Polmont, specialised training is provided for staff as required.

The SPS responds formally to recommendations in HMCIP Reports. Responses are published on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk. In addition to these recommendations, HMCIP may also list some “Points of Note.” In responding, the SPS note these without commitment. They may be taken into account by local managers, and will be balanced against managers’ judgement about resources available, any savings which might be required, and the operational balance of the establishment.”

Question reference: S2W-22287

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive why the reasons for not allowing individuals in Iona Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont have not been examined, as recommended by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 2.35 of his May 2004 inspection report but identified in paragraph 12.12 of his March 2005 report as “not achieved”.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The SPS do not consider this to be a priority. Prisoners dining in-cell is common across the SPS estate.

Question reference: S2W-22289

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the situation in HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 12.38 of his inspection report of March 2005, that accommodation used for educational programmes “is still insufficient”.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

A new facility is being constructed and should be available by early 2007. It should also be noted that Polmont is fully meeting its education targets.

Question reference: S2W-22284

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in respect of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ recommendation in paragraph 11.10 of his inspection report of March 2005 into HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont that “the system needs to be reviewed to ensure that young adults do attend” their health centre, dental, psychology and social work appointments and “that there are adequate interview rooms available”.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

A new system has been introduced to facilitate young offenders attending the health centre.

Question reference: S2W-22274

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that children under the age of 16 are not held in prison, as recommended by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 8.45 of his inspection report of May 2004 on HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont.

The Executive’s policy is to avoid, wherever possible, holding young people under the age of 16 in prison. In the exceptional circumstances where it is deemed necessary, it must be for the shortest appropriate period of time.

Very occasionally, and only when the courts decide, would an under 16 be held in prison or young offenders institution for the shortest possible time until a suitable secure place is available.

To ensure we meet the needs of this very vulnerable group of young people, we are investing £18 million to support the redevelopment of the secure estate. An additional 29 places will be provided. The overall estate will be 125 places when the redevelopment is complete in 2007.

We have also developed a range of alternatives to secure care. The Intensive Support Fund, announced on 19 December 2003, was set up to improve the range of intensive support and supervision available in Scotland; to improve the quality of care in secure and to improve aftercare arrangements for young people leaving secure.

The first phase of Intensive Support and Monitoring Services is being implemented. This intervention can offer a direct alternative to secure accommodation for some young people, in appropriate circumstances.

Detaining young people is not a decision that is taken lightly, but we must balance the welfare of that young person with that of the community they live in.

Question reference: S2W-22277

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve arrangements for access to sanitation and hygiene in Argyll Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, given HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ assessment in paragraph 11.2 of his inspection report of March 2005 that his earlier recommendation for improvement, detailed in paragraph 2.4 of his report of May 2004, has been only “partly achieved”.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272,on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The hall is compliant with the SPS hygiene control circular. Argyle Hall is due to be emptied in early in 2007 when the new Houseblock is completed.

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