Question reference: S5W-28005
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 18 March 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent concerns raised regarding the physical infrastructure of HMP Barlinnie.
Answer
We are committed to investing in a replacement for HMP Barlinnie, Scotland’s largest prison. In the meantime, we are also committed to ensuring appropriate standards of facilities to meet the needs of prisoners in the existing prison.
Over the past decade, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has continued to invest in the maintenance of HMP Barlinnie. Following, agreement by Parliament of the Scottish Government budget, I can confirm that we have agreed to provide additional funding to SPS for essential remedial work at HMP Barlinnie. This will see the refurbishment of the prisoner reception areas, including removing existing holding cells that have been subject to criticism, and the partial refurbishment of the healthcare facility and additional work to the healthcare and addictions facilities in the accommodation halls. These improvements will help prison and NHS staff overcome daily operational challenges and provide appropriate services and support for those in the care of HMP Barlinnie.
£3 million is being provided towards the costs of this work in 2020-21 and further funding will be provided in 2021-22.
Funding in the coming year is part of our additional £50 million for prisons in the 2020-21 Budget, including a £30 million increase in revenue funding for staffing and other operational costs for prisons and a 43% rise in capital funding of £20 million.
This means a total of £68 million will be available for improving infrastructure across the estate.