asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to meet the representatives of the Scottish Prison Officers' Association and the officials of the Peterhead branch of that association to discuss the position of prison officers at Peterhead prison.

Officials of my Department are today visiting Peterhead where they will meet, among others, representatives of the local branch of the Scottish Prison Officers' Association. No request for a meeting to discuss the position of prison officers at Peterhead has been received from the local branch committee or from the executive committee of the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which an inmate of Peterhead prison was admitted to an Aberdeen hospital after the incident at the prison on Saturday 2 November when seven prison officers were held hostage by prisoners; and if he will state the nature of the medical treatment received by the prisoner.

Incidents at Peterhead prison on 2 and 3 November are the subject of investigations by the police. I cannot comment further on the events which occurred while these matters are under investigation.