McMillan Welcomes MacAskill Reassurance on Prisoner Complaints
Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP, West Scotland) has today welcomed a commitment from Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill that the Scottish Government will carry out further consultation on the reform of the system for prisoner advocacy and complaints before a final decision is made about the future role of Prison Visiting Committees.
The SNP MSP for West Scotland has also welcomed the clear procedure for prisoner complaints set out by the government. Mr McMillan said:
"The members of Prison Visiting Committees are passionate and dedicated volunteers who give up their own time to monitor prison conditions, and we should be grateful for the service they provide. Regardless of what might have led someone to end up in prison in the first place, it is right and essential that society has a mechanism in place to ensure that they are treated properly once they are there and their interests represented.
"That does not mean we should not review that service from time to time, however, to ensure that it remains fit for purpose, and it is certainly true that prisons and the needs of prisoners themselves have changed enormously since the Prison Visiting Committees were established in the 19th century.
"Nonetheless, like other MSPs, I am keen to ensure both that the views of prison visitors themselves are listened to and that the best aspects of the Prison Visiting Service are built on and not discarded in the reform process. I am reassured that the commitments that the Cabinet Secretary has made today mean that this will happen.
"The Scottish Government’s aim in undertaking this reform is to put in place a modern and appropriate independent advocacy service for prisoners that is fit for the 21st century, working alongside a robust system of inspection. That is something that we need in our society and which all MSPs should be able to support."
The SNP MSP for West Scotland has also welcomed the clear procedure for prisoner complaints set out by the government. Mr McMillan said:
"The members of Prison Visiting Committees are passionate and dedicated volunteers who give up their own time to monitor prison conditions, and we should be grateful for the service they provide. Regardless of what might have led someone to end up in prison in the first place, it is right and essential that society has a mechanism in place to ensure that they are treated properly once they are there and their interests represented.
"That does not mean we should not review that service from time to time, however, to ensure that it remains fit for purpose, and it is certainly true that prisons and the needs of prisoners themselves have changed enormously since the Prison Visiting Committees were established in the 19th century.
"Nonetheless, like other MSPs, I am keen to ensure both that the views of prison visitors themselves are listened to and that the best aspects of the Prison Visiting Service are built on and not discarded in the reform process. I am reassured that the commitments that the Cabinet Secretary has made today mean that this will happen.
"The Scottish Government’s aim in undertaking this reform is to put in place a modern and appropriate independent advocacy service for prisoners that is fit for the 21st century, working alongside a robust system of inspection. That is something that we need in our society and which all MSPs should be able to support."
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