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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Slopping out millions 'must stop' | Slopping out millions 'must stop' |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Millions of pounds of compensation being paid to criminals under human rights laws is "unacceptable", Scotland's justice minister has said. | Millions of pounds of compensation being paid to criminals under human rights laws is "unacceptable", Scotland's justice minister has said. |
| So far £11m has been paid to more than 3,700 prisoners after a judge ruled their human rights had been breached by slopping out their prison cell toilets. | So far £11m has been paid to more than 3,700 prisoners after a judge ruled their human rights had been breached by slopping out their prison cell toilets. |
| In England and Wales there is a one-year time bar for such claims. | In England and Wales there is a one-year time bar for such claims. |
| Kenny MacAskill wants the UK government to legislate to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the country. | Kenny MacAskill wants the UK government to legislate to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the country. |
| A House of Lords ruling in October 2007 said claims in Scotland could date back to 2001, when human rights laws became operational. | A House of Lords ruling in October 2007 said claims in Scotland could date back to 2001, when human rights laws became operational. |
| The anomaly has arisen because of the wording of the Scotland Act which established devolution - and included human rights provisions. We have already seen too much public money having to be paid out to prisoners Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary | The anomaly has arisen because of the wording of the Scotland Act which established devolution - and included human rights provisions. We have already seen too much public money having to be paid out to prisoners Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary |
| Only Westminster can change this and Scottish ministers have been urging their colleagues in London to act quickly. | Only Westminster can change this and Scottish ministers have been urging their colleagues in London to act quickly. |
| Mr MacAskill told parliament £67m had been set aside for payouts to this year. | Mr MacAskill told parliament £67m had been set aside for payouts to this year. |
| "We have already seen too much public money having to be paid out to prisoners, some of whom have committed extremely serious and appalling crimes," he said. | "We have already seen too much public money having to be paid out to prisoners, some of whom have committed extremely serious and appalling crimes," he said. |
| "We need to bring this situation to an end and the public quite rightly expects that we should do so as quickly as possible." | "We need to bring this situation to an end and the public quite rightly expects that we should do so as quickly as possible." |
| He said changing the law would free £50m for spending on other government priorities. | He said changing the law would free £50m for spending on other government priorities. |
| Constructive dialogue | Constructive dialogue |
| In response, Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy pledged to help find a way to resolve the problem. | In response, Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy pledged to help find a way to resolve the problem. |
| He said: "I do not want to see taxpayers' money being used to pay damages unnecessarily to people who have committed the most heinous of crimes. | He said: "I do not want to see taxpayers' money being used to pay damages unnecessarily to people who have committed the most heinous of crimes. |
| "I will work with the Scottish Government and Ministry of Justice to find a way of resolving this complex issue which would require a change to the Scotland Act." | "I will work with the Scottish Government and Ministry of Justice to find a way of resolving this complex issue which would require a change to the Scotland Act." |
| Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said the issue should be pursued "constructively and collaboratively" with the Westminster Government. | Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said the issue should be pursued "constructively and collaboratively" with the Westminster Government. |
| "Nobody wants offenders receiving payment in this way," he said. | "Nobody wants offenders receiving payment in this way," he said. |
| Robert Brown, for the Liberal Democrats, pledged his party's support but asked for details and correspondence to be made public. | Robert Brown, for the Liberal Democrats, pledged his party's support but asked for details and correspondence to be made public. |
| Conservative justice spokesman Bill Aitken said his party was committed to dealing with the issue "as expeditiously as possible". | Conservative justice spokesman Bill Aitken said his party was committed to dealing with the issue "as expeditiously as possible". |
| Slopping out was the practice of using buckets as toilets in prison cells. | Slopping out was the practice of using buckets as toilets in prison cells. |
| Although it has now ended, claims continue to be made, dating back up to eight years. | Although it has now ended, claims continue to be made, dating back up to eight years. |
| Mr MacAskill said 3,737 cases had been settled at a cost of £11.2m. | Mr MacAskill said 3,737 cases had been settled at a cost of £11.2m. |
| A further 1,223 were being dealt with - an average of 200 new claims per month. | A further 1,223 were being dealt with - an average of 200 new claims per month. |