Commenting ahead of a visit by Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice to the proposed site of HMP Grampian followed by a visit to HMP Peterhead. Dr Nanette Milne, Conservative MSP for the North East has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to provide an assurance that members of the Aberdeen prison visiting committee will be able to play a significant role in the proposed monitoring service.
Dr Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the SNP have still not provided assurances that the Scottish Governments proposals to scrap Scotland’s prison visiting committees will result in the current members of the existing prison visiting committees having a key role in the proposed monitoring service.
“This is the Cabinet Secretary for Justice second visit to the North East which will only add to concern that the SNP Scottish Government have not thought their plans through and the impact they are likely to have.
“The First Minister failed to answer a direct question regarding the cost and loss of 240 unpaid volunteer members of prison visiting committees.
“From day one the SNP Scottish Governments have acted like a bull in china shop over this issue. It would now seem that the SNP’s proposed monitoring service will cost more to the taxpayer and could see the loss of the skills of the dedicated members of the Aberdeen prison visiting committee.
“The least the Cabinet Secretary for Justice can do is give an assurance that members of the Aberdeen prison visiting committee will be able to play a significant role in the proposed monitoring service.”