Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
by Andrew Kellock, Press & Journal
Prison chiefs are working on plans for a new north-east jail, the Press and Journal can reveal.
They have told SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson that a proposal is being developed which could lead to a replacement for the ageing sex offenders' unit at Peterhead and Aberdeen's overcrowded Craiginches.
Last night he urged Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson to "end the uncertainty" over the futures of both.
She is already facing questions from two local authorities about why a wide-ranging consultation exercise - which had already revealed massive support for a new prison in the north-east - was extended.
Mr Stevenson has played a key role in the campaign to have a replacement built for Peterhead's Victorian-era jail, which houses 300 of Scotland's most reviled criminals.
The Banff and Buchan MSP said last night: "The Scottish Prison Service has confirmed to me that early work is under way to respond to the consultation on north-east prisons.
"When the input from the new criminal justice authorities is available later this year, the final piece in the jigsaw will be in place.
"The delays have been considerable and unsettling for all concerned, so today's news is very welcome.
"But the planning now being undertaken must be translated quickly into a funded commitment to prison places in new premises.
"I have been assured that, should no decision be made by this executive, a proposal will be waiting for whoever is the justice minister after the May 2007 Scottish Parliament election.
"A decision before the election by the present government can end this unnecessary delay. This is a key test of the Labour-Lib Dem Scottish Executive's commitment to the criminal justice system, and to the prison service staff employed in our area."
Mr Stevenson said he now believed a new jail for Peterhead was "a step nearer".
The Scottish Prison Service started a consultation last summer and admitted for the first time that a "super jail" - to replace both Peterhead Craiginches - could be created.
Organisations and individuals gave their feedback on six options.
And 51% of those who responded backed a new building at the existing Peterhead Prison complex at the port's Invernettie.
Another 28% signalled their support for replacing the jail, and possibly Craiginches, on a site elsewhere in Aberdeenshire.
Only 18% were in favour of replacing Peterhead Prison with a new one in the central belt.
Just 3% backed refurbishing the Victorian-era jail.
There was no support for making operational changes at the jail to allow it to comply with human rights rules on issues such as slopping out.
Last month, Scotland's chief jails inspector Andrew McLellan branded conditions in Peterhead "the worst in the country", and said the continued practice of slopping out was "a disgrace".
An SPS spokesman said last night that decisions had still to be made on the size, type and location of any new jail.
He rejected an accusation from Aberdeenshire Council that the consultation exercise had been extended to include Scotland's recently-created criminal justice authorities (CJAs) because the original results were not what the SPS wanted.
Aberdeen City Council has also urged the justice minister to give assurances that a decision on the futures of the two north-east prisons is not being delayed in the run-up to the Holyrood elections.
CJAs are partnerships between councils and other agencies involved in strategies to stop people re-offending.
A new prison could cost between £50-70million.
...to read original story click on Press & Journal
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
