Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
25 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
HMP and YOI Polmont (Staff Shortages)
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland report indicating that staff shortages mean young prisoners at HMP and YOI Polmont lack enough opportunities for work, education or recreation and spend “far too long locked in their cells”. (S6F-04789)
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
6. Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland report indicating that staff shortages me...
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
I welcome the report and have noted the continued improvements that the Scottish Prison Service has made since the inspection was carried out last August, as...
Pauline McNeill
Lab
It is extremely sad that yet another inspection at Polmont young offenders institution has told us that there are deep-rooted problems in keeping young offen...
The First Minister
SNP
First, I record my sadness at the death of Daniel Kerr, which Pauline McNeill referred to. It is a tragedy, and I extend my deepest sympathies to the family ...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I was pleased to see that the Scottish Prison Service has piloted non-pain-inducing control and restraint techniques that reduce the risk of injury to staff ...
The First Minister
SNP
Yes, it will be rolled out to the remainder of the estate.The Scottish Prison Service’s new approach to control and restraint is successfully running in thre...