Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill accepted seven of nine recommendations made after inmates went on the run from Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee.

He also ordered a further review by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Brigadier Hugh Monro to ensure progress is made.

Mr MacAskill said: "I am sure that the Scottish Prison Service will apply the revised process rigorously.

“However, and while the rate of absconds has fallen dramatically, the Scottish Government will never be complacent about public safety."

Professor Alec Spencer, of Stirling University, drew up the recommendations in June after high-profile escapes put pressure on the Justice Secretary.

Brian "Hawk" Martin, who was serving 10 years for firearms offences, absconded from Castle Huntly in May.

The 51-year-old was moved from Shotts jail to the open estate despite clear warnings in his case files about his criminal history and previous escapes.

The process of transferring prisoners had been "tightened" after the earlier escape of Robert Foye, who raped a schoolgirl while on the run.

Mr MacAskill faced further pressure when killer John Brown, 57, also absconded from Castle Huntly in May when he was granted a week's home leave.

Brown fled to The Gambia, in west Africa, but was found dead there on November 29.

Mr MacAskill said he hopes that by improving the electronic database, prison authorities will be alerted to inmates who have previously escaped when considering transfer to an open prison.

He also accepted a recommendation that final decisions on transfers should to be taken by a governor or deputy governor.

This comes after criticism of the fact that no single person "steps back and reviews the case as a whole".

Police liaison officers will attend meetings to ensure police intelligence helps shape decisions.

Calls for GPS tagging of long-term inmates in the open estate will be kept under review by the authorities.

The Government did not accept a finding that long-term prisoners are eligible for transfer to open jails too early. This will be further reviewed by the Scottish Prison Service.

Mr MacAskill said: "Introducing prisoners, many of whom have been in prison for a long time, to conditions that allow them increased freedom and more access to the community is an integral and valuable part of the reintegration and rehabilitative process.

"It is vital that we retain these arrangements which, when applied appropriately, can make a valuable contribution to reducing reoffending."

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said the Government should have accepted calls to tag inmates with GPS trackers.

“The SNP has abandoned the first duty of government, to protect the public.

“It is more interested in emptying our jails than locking up dangerous criminals. And by refusing to tag convicts in open prisons the SNP has demonstrated once again that it is the criminal’s best friend.”