Private Prisons in
Scotland
On Thursday, 29th January, Fiona
Hyslop, an MSP for the Lothians, will lead a
parliamentary debate on proposals to establish two
new prisons in Scotland, one at Addiewell in West
Lothian, the other at Low Moss near Bishopbriggs.
Specifically, Fiona Hyslop will ask
if there has
been enough public information and
consultation on
what is being planned by the
Scottish Prison Service.
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The proposal to establish two new prisons
in Scotland is the outcome of the Scottish Executive’s Prison
Estates Review which concluded that an extra 2,200 prison
places will be needed by the end of this decade.
The
most controversial part of the Scottish Executive’s proposals
is the recommendation that one of these should be privately
built and operated. Local people in West Lothian and
Bishopbriggs do not yet
know which of their two
communities is to host the private
prison.
Private or public, the supporters of the
plans claim that the prisons will bring much needed jobs to
the areas concerned, and the benefits to the local communities
affected will outweigh any of the downsides involved. But many
local residents remain unconvinced.
Formal consultation on the Scottish
Prison Service’s plans is currently underway at Local
Authority Level, but you can contribute to Thursday’s
parliamentary debate though this online forum, which will be
read by and contributed to by
MSPs.
Fiona
Hyslop's Motion
That the Parliament notes the
concerns
of many of its members and amongst
the
wider public about the proposals for private
prisons in Scotland; notes that
applications
for two new prisons have now been
lodged
in Addiewell and Low Moss but that as
yet
the public have not been informed if
either
or both are intended to operate as
private
prisons, and expresses the view that
the
public should be entitled to know what
kind
of operation is being planned for their
local
communities as part of any consultation
and decision-making
process.
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Fiona
Hyslop MSP
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Supported by: Mr
Stewart Maxwell, Stewart Stevenson, Michael Matheson, Mark
Ballard, Mr Kenny MacAskill, Colin Fox, Tommy Sheridan, Dr
Jean Turner, Patrick Harvie, Linda Fabiani, Nicola Sturgeon,
Robin Harper, Bruce Crawford, Jim Mather, Shiona Baird,
Marilyn Livingstone, Christine Grahame, Frances Curran,
Carolyn Leckie, Tricia Marwick, Ms Sandra White, Alex Neil,
Brian Adam, Mr Adam Ingram, Ms Rosemary Byrne (list correct on
26th January)
Useful
Links
Scottish Prison
Service
Scottish Executive - Prisons webpage
Stop the
Prison
Prison Officers' Association
The Scottish Parliament is not responsible for the content of external web sites
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