Jail's slopping out claims on the increase

THE number of compensation claims made by prisoners for "slopping out" at Edinburgh's Saughton jail has increased, new figures have shown.

A total of 385 outstanding cases were recorded in November, but that number has risen to 398.

The figure was revealed in a parliamentary answer by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

The cases involve inmates or former inmates from the prison seeking cash pay-outs for what judges have ruled is a breach of their human rights.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown has calculated that it is likely to add up to a bill of more than 1 million.

He said: "The slopping out fiasco has already cost the taxpayer millions of pounds and looks set to grab another million pounds from the public coffers."