Conservatives slam SNP over prisons row

The Nationalists claimed a Tory quest for spare buildings to house prisoners had unearthed a children's development centre, among other locations.

But the Tories hit back, accusing the SNP of selectively quoting from a speech by their leader Annabel Goldie.

This made clear that Ms Goldie was looking only for buildings where public safety will not be compromised, said Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken.

"For the SNP to distort something so completely is beyond reprehensible and it raises serious questions about their capacity for government, when instead of presenting ideas of their own they are forced to misrepresent the ideas of others," he said.

The row began when the SNP ridiculed Tory suggestions that unused NHS properties may be converted into prison space.

The suggestions relied on converting a children's centre in Broughty Ferry or a building in the middle of Pitlochry, said the SNP.

These premises had been named by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill in a letter to SNP MSP Angela Constance.

He told her that after an inquiry by Bill Aitken, government officials asked health boards if they had any property that can be used for this.

"Eleven of the 14 NHS boards responded saying there was no space available," said the minister.

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde identified Merchiston Hospital; NHS Ayrshire and Arran identified Holmhead Hospital; and NHS Tayside identified Irvine Memorial Hospital and Pitlochry and Armitstead Child Development Centre, Broughty Ferry.

"The latter three boards all stated that it would be a significant challenge and impractical to use their facilities as a holding facility for prisoners."

Ms Constance said: "The Tories big idea is in tatters.

"There are no suitable buildings and there is no Conservative policy on prisons.

"The only buildings the Conservatives could find are in the middle of Broughty Ferry and Pitlochry or a hospital in Cumnock currently housing a day care centre.

"It is no surprise we have heard nothing more of Ms Goldie's flagship policy."

And the SNP's Stewart Hosie said: "This ridiculous suggestion exposes the Conservatives' continued failure as a party in Scotland.

"There will be outrage that the Conservatives think a children's centre in the middle of a residential district is suitable for a prison.

"The SNP is taking a responsible approach to Scotland's justice system with the first of three new prisons opening last month. Real reform of the criminal justice system is under way."

But Mr Aitken insisted: "The SNP's contingency plans for an emergency hitting Scotland's prisons amount to nothing more than a casual release of prisoners to walk our streets.

"The SNP Government has simply not applied its minds to finding additional facilities, whereas I have been made aware of at least two such facilities – one at Machrahanish in Campbeltown, where the Ministry of Defence are at present seeking to sell the former RAF buildings, and the other at Edzell in Angus.

"I am not saying that these provide the final answer but it was a search worth undertaking."