HMP Bishopbriggs: written authority - August 2007

Written authority and formal request between Director General for Justice and Communities, and Cabinet Secretary for Justice regarding HMP Bishopbriggs. A Written Authority is provided to Accountable Officers by Ministers in circumstances when delivering an action is inconsistent with the Accountable Officer’s Duties and a ministerial direction on the specific action is required to continue.

This document is part of a collection


Written authority

To: Mike Ewart, Chief Executive, SPS
From: Kenny Macaskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Date: 22 August 2007

Accountable Officer Direction: HMP Bishopbriggs

  1. I refer to your minute of 20 August, requesting written authority to terminate the current competition to design, build and operate a new prison at Bishopbriggs and constitute a new competition to design and build a prison for public sector operation and management through the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
  2. In terms of section 15(8) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, I hereby authorise you, as the appropriate Accountable Officer, to terminate the current competition and constitute a new competition to design and build a prison to be operated in the public sector by SPS.
  3. It is a matter of principle for this Administration that HMP Bishopbriggs and any future new prisons be operated within the public sector. To that end, I look to you and to the members of the SPS to ensure that public operation is as efficient and cost-effective as possible and that the apparent cost gap between public and private sector operation is addressed and reduced.

Kenny Macaskill
Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Contact

Email: govandrisk@gov.scot

Back to top