£25m Edinburgh prison block opens
9 Jun 05
Slopping out has ended at Edinburgh Prison
Eighty years of slopping out at HMP Edinburgh have ended with the transfer of prisoners to a newly constructed houseblock, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced today.
The £25 million block will provide places for 348 prisoners and offer a range of improved facilities, including in-cell toilets.
An £8 million new prison healthcare and education centre, which will provide a purpose-designed healthcare facility, education unit, programmes area, links and agency centre, chapel, prisoner library and accommodation for social work and drug support services, was also opened at the prison today.
Speaking during her visit to the prison, Cathy Jamieson said: "My view has consistently been that slopping-out is undesirable and that the right way to end this is through comprehensive modernisation of the prison estate.
"With slopping out brought to an end in Barlinnie Prison in July last year - and now in HMP Edinburgh - it is clear that our record investment in the prison estate is now delivering real improvements. This is not about making life 'softer' for offenders, but about creating fair prison conditions that will make prison work better for us all."
Slopping out still continues in HMP Perth, HMYOI Polmont and HMP Peterhead. It is due to end at HMP Perth this summer and in HMYOI Polmont in 2006.