Action to close prisoner compensation loophole

The SNP have welcomed changes to the Scotland Act which will prevent Scottish taxpayers from footing the bill for more payouts to prisoners over ‘slopping out’.

The Commons Delegated Legislation Committee today (Monday) approved a draft order which gives the Scottish Parliament the power to bring in a time limit for cases raised under the Scotland Act for damages for an alleged breach of human rights. Thousands of inmates have claimed their rights have been breached because they were denied toilet facilities in jail.

SNP Home Affairs spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP, who is a member of the committee, said: 

“Too much public money has already been paid out to prisoners, and I am delighted that we have been able to close this loophole. The end of this anomaly could mean £50 million of Scottish Government money can now go on to public services and improving the prison estate instead of into the pockets of convicted criminals.

“Where this is all down to the wording of the Scotland Act and the failure of the previous Labour/Liberal Executive to address the problem of slopping out, the Scottish Government has worked constructively with UK Ministers to bring this situation to an end. The SNP now look forward to this £50m to be released for real priorities.”

Note

Following the Somerville judgement in 2007, the Scottish Government is the only public authority open to claims for damages arising from alleged breaches of human rights without a one year time bar.  The proposed bill will end this anomaly, allowing the Scottish Government to release up to 50m pounds currently set aside to deal with future claims for prisoner compensation for other priorities