Prison 'will not open early'

Nov 13 2008

The Scottish Government is not planning to bring forward the opening date of Addiewell jail to help reduce prison overcrowding, MSPs have been told.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill told Labour MSP Rhona Brankin: "HMP Addiewell will open on December 12. The opening of a new prison requires careful planning and testing of operation provision."

The opening had been planned for the last three years and it was important to stick to a plan which will be jeopardised by "precipitous" opening, and he added that "the prison will take its full capacity of 700 prisoners by early March 2009."