Prisons report – All that money, no additional places

08/05/2008

Commenting after the publication of the Audit Scotland report entitled Managing increasing prisoner numbers in Scotland, Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said:

Many will find it astonishing that there has been this financial outlay and not one additional prison place has been created, albeit that prisoners are now being kept in greater comfort. There remains a lack of prison places and it is astounding that the Low Moss facility was closed prior to the completion of the replacement jail at Addiewell.

"However, the bottom line is that we need an additional prison. Scottish Conservatives have recognised this for some time and indeed we budgeted for it at last year’s elections."