Ministerial Accountability Board: progress report - February 2026

2. Summary of Progress

This report shows that 11 recommendations are considered ‘completed’ by the Action Owner. These include the removal of bunk beds from areas in which young people are accommodated in HMP & YOI Polmont (Recommendation 1); the removal of identified door stops (Recommendation 2); implementation of a 24 hour concern line (Recommendation 9); sharing of mental health referrals (Recommendation 12); training on accurate record keeping (Recommendation 13); revision of the Death in Prison Learning and Audit Reviews (DIPLAR) process to ensure physical environment is considered (Recommendation 15/2 JM); the appointment of independent DIPLAR Chairs (Action 1); a review of bedding (Recommendation 6); active patrolling guidance (Recommendation 7 JM); and the independent review of the FAI process (Action 3).

In addition to the completed recommendations, there are 5 rated as Green, 21 rated as Amber-Green and 6 rated as Amber-Red. At the time of reporting, none of the recommendations are rated Red or unachievable. The majority of remaining recommendations are rated as Amber-Green and are providing information which demonstrates progress towards completion.

Since December, there have been significant developments which have resulted in changes to the delivery confidence RAG ratings for the following recommendations.

• Recommendation 2 (JM) around ablution doors has moved from Amber-Green to Green. This is to reflect the completed installation of reduced-ligature design replacement doors in all 12 transitional cells which are used by young people in the first 72 hours from admission in HMP & YOI Polmont.
• Recommendation 7 around information sharing between courts and prisons has moved from Amber-Red to Amber-Green. There is now a clearer understanding about the sharing of bail assessment reports and justice social work reports, with further assurances being attained around how this is operating in practice.
• Recommendation 11 relating to the review of information sharing guidance between Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Forth Valley Health Board (FVHB) has moved from Amber-Green to Amber-Red. This is due to delays in the completion of updated information sharing agreements but is expected to conclude in early 2026.
• Recommendation 6 (JM) around visual hatch checks has moved from Green to Amber-Green. This reflects an extension to the timeline to complete the work required to inform next steps, which is expected to be submitted by SPS to Ministers by the end of January.

Significant milestones have been completed since the last report in relation to recommendation 14 around the review of ‘Talk to Me’. This includes the publication of the review report and SPS’ ‘Commitment to Change: Suicide Prevention Pathway in Scottish Prisons’ which outlines the new approach to suicide prevention. The majority of these sub-recommendations remain rated as Amber-Green to reflect the ongoing work to fully implement the new approach.