Foye absconded from Castle Huntly before committing the rape

First Minister Alex Salmond told MSPs Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill had asked prison bosses to consider the change after the Robert Foye case.

Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Cumbernauld after absconding from Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee last year.

The 28-year-old had previously absconded from the same prison in 2005.

Mr Salmond told MSPs: "The justice secretary has asked for a presumption against re-putting to the open estate anybody who has absconded from the open estate."

'Comprehensive response'

A report by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) into the case revealed Foye - who was in prison for the attempted murder of a police officer - was considered a suitable candidate to be in an open jail despite having a high risk of re-offending.

The report, published on Tuesday, recommended seven changes be made to the system of transferring prisoners to open jails.

And Mr Salmond said that these were being implemented by the prison service "either immediately or within the next few weeks".

He also said open jails would be included in an examination of the prison system being carried out by a commission led by former First Minister Henry McLeish.

Mr Salmond stated: "I think that's a comprehensive response to a dreadful occurrence."