Reliance has mistakenly released prisoners

Information commissioner Kevin Dunion has launched an inquiry, after a complaint from Nationalists.

Reliance took over prisoner escort services in the west of Scotland at Easter and since then there have been a series of high profile blunders.

A number of prisoners and offenders have gone free.

Opposition politicians demanded to know what penalties the private security firm would be required to pay.

Ministers agreed to make public some details of the �126m contract, amid growing criticism of the company.

We feel that the SPS published their report in the spirit of freedom of information and open democracy Scottish Executive statement

Other details, though, were removed from the 152-page document on grounds of public safety and commercial confidentiality.

Information tsar Mr Dunion is now investigating whether the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was entitled to withhold the facts.

In response to a letter from Scottish National Party justice spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon, an official said: "I am writing to confirm that the commissioner has agreed that this case should be investigated and has instructed me to carry out the investigation.

"I have therefore written to the Scottish Prison Service today and have asked them to provide me with information which will allow me to explore their contractual relationship with Reliance."

The commissioner will give his ruling in less than four months' time.

'Come clean'

A Scottish Executive spokesperson said: "We feel that the SPS published their report in the spirit of freedom of information and open democracy.

"It's the first of its type to be published anywhere in the UK in terms of transparency, so we are happy for the commissioner to investigate."

Ms Sturgeon said she was delighted that the commissioner had decided to carry out an investigation but said Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson should save him the bother and "come clean".

She said: "I believe that the Scottish people have a right to as much information as possible about the Reliance contract.

"After all, it is the Scottish taxpayer that will pay �126m to Reliance over the lifetime of the contract. So why shouldn't they get to know how much Reliance has to pay back for letting prisoners escape?

"Hopefully, this investigation will at last hold Reliance, the SPS and the minister to account.

Annabel Goldie, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said Ms Jamieson should resign over the high-profile errors.