Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement from Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are to consult on options for prison services in the North-east over the coming weeks.
The commitment from the Minister came in a Parliamentary Answer in response to a question tabled by the SNP MSP. Among the options being discussed, a new-build jail for Peterhead is considered to be the front runner.
Speaking in Peterhead today, Mr Stevenson said:
“I very much welcome this response from the Justice Minister. A new-build jail for Peterhead is very much the lead option.
“The staff at the prison have an excellent track record. Now they need the modern premises that will enable them to build on success and further ensure public safety.
“Peterhead Prison already provides hundreds of breadwinner jobs for the town and contributes around £12million to the local economy. A new jail will mean a substantial increase in employment and possibly worth £20million to the local economy.
Note: The Parliamentary Question and answer is as follows:
Stewart Stevenson (Banff & Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in updating its plans for the prison estate. (S2W-17707)
Cathy Jamieson: I asked the Scottish prison Service (SPS) to update its Prisons Estates Strategy in light of the Napier judgement and other developments since the Estates Review was completed in 2002. As part of that work, SPS will be discussing options for prison services in the North-east of Scotland with a range of local and national interests over the coming weeks. SPS will then report to me. I will thereafter decide on the way forward.
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
