Ministerial Accountability Board: progress report - December 2025
Information collected for the December meeting of the Ministerial Accountability Board reporting on the progress made towards the completion of the various recommendations and commitments being monitored by the board. It is based on information from Scottish Government, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Prison Service.
2. Summary of Progress
This report shows that 8 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 DIPLAR process to ensure physical environment is considered (Recommendation 15/2) and the appointment of independent DIPLAR Chairs (Action 1).
In addition to the completed recommendations, there are 6 rated as Green, 22 rated as Amber-Green and 7 rated as Amber-Red. At the time of reporting, none of the recommendations are rated Red or unachievable. The majority are rated as Amber-Green and are providing information which demonstrates progress towards completion.
Since September, five recommendations have seen a change in the delivery confidence RAG.
Four recommendations have moved from Amber-Green to Amber-Red:
- Recommendations 8 and 14(ix) around improvements to digital systems due to current work being undertaken to update the SPS digital infrastructure meaning this work cannot commence until 2026.
- Recommendation 5 around the SPS “items in use” policy as SPS consider the wider implications of removing personal items from young persons.
- Recommendation 2 (Jack McKenzi FAI) relating to the removal and replacement of ablution doors, due to delays in suppliers being able to deliver the new doors.
Recommendation 14(i) on the review of Talk to Me guidance pertaining to the first 72 hours has moved from Green to Amber-Green RAG rating. This is due to the upcoming publication of the Talk to Me findings and overhaul approach, and potential implications this could have on the 72 hour process.