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I am grateful to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for this Inspection Report.
The formal inspection of the Unit was carried out in September/October 1999 and on 16 November the Scottish Prison Service announced a rationalisation of its estate. Among the rationalisation measures the mothballing of the Peterhead Unit was announced.
The decision to mothball the Peterhead Unit was taken for a number of reasons, namely high running costs, geographical remoteness from families of prisoners, difficulties in maintaining staffing levels and under-occupancy of the Unit. I am pleased to acknowledge the excellent work of staff and management in the Unit and to emphasise that the mothballing is no reflection on the good work which they do.
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to take into account the general points in the Report in managing the other small units in the Service.
8 December 1999
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