Stevenson Meets Justice Minister To Discuss The Future Of Peterhead Prison

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson, today (Wednesday) met with Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and SPS Director of Public Services Rachel Gwynd along with representatives of the Prison Officers’ Partners Committee to discuss the future of Peterhead Prison. Mr. Stevenson secured a commitment from the Minister that plans for the prison and allocated funding would be included in the draft Executive budget in September and that a clear decision would be made at the very latest by 31st March 2008.

Mr. Stevenson who has campaigned with the committee and other community groups to save Peterhead Prison also put pressure on the Minister to obtain responses from the Criminal Justice Authorities to the consultation on the future of North East prisons published last year.

He also pressed the issues of prison staff working conditions and prison management.
Commenting after his meeting, Mr Stevenson said:

“The Justice Minister has confirmed to me that a decision will be made on the future of Peterhead Prison at the very latest by March of next year and that we can expect to see these plans published in the draft budget in September. Though we are still awaiting a funded commitment from the government to prison places in new premises, the outcome of today’s meeting has been a positive development.

“The delays and uncertainty surrounding the fate of the prison have been considerable and unsettling for all concerned so this news is very welcome.

“I took the opportunity to impress upon the Minister and the SPS representative other issues of concern to the Committee, such as prison officers’ morale and working conditions and to demand that they finally address these ongoing problems.

“People in the North East are aware of the SNP’s relentless dedication to this campaign. They can be sure of rapid action on this issue from an SNP Justice Minister in the next term.

“However, a decision before the election by the present government could have ended this unnecessary delay. This is a clear reflection of the Lab-Lib coalition’s lack of commitment to the criminal justice system and to prison staff employed in our area."