Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent inspection report of HMP Kilmarnock, the first inspection of a prison in Scotland transferred from private to public sector operation, which found that standards at the prison have declined since the previous inspection.
The Scottish Government welcomes the His Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons Scotland (HMIPS) report on HMP Kilmarnock and the important work by HMIPS to assess the treatment and care of those in custody.
We note the report’s recognition of the positive and respectful relationships between staff and those in the care of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and that the transfer from private into public ownership was done in a safe and controlled manner.
The report makes a number of recommendations for improvement and since the inspection which was undertaken in May 2025, SPS have progressed work to address many of the points raised, recognising the need for continuous improvement.
The impact of the high prison population in Scotland is felt within HMP Kilmarnock, and across the prison estate. The inspectorate acknowledges there are opportunities for the future under the transition.