HMP Addiewell inmates to enjoy en-suite cells and flatscreen digital TVs

But prison bosses insist that the opposite is true, and say the conditions would help in the rehabilitation of offenders.

The jail receives its first 30 prisoners, who all volunteered to be housed there, on December 12. It is Scotland's second private jail after Kilmarnock and will house low, medium and high security convicts.

When they arrive the prisoners will find conditions very different to Scotland's other jails.

Every cell window has adjustable ventilation, there is a state-of-the-art Microsoft computer room, a library, a massive gym hall and a fitness suite.

The 12 wings in the jail also have "electronic kiosks" so prisoners can check menus and order meals in advance, check how much money they have in their accounts, top-up phone accounts and order goods from the canteen. Enhanced privileges include in-cell access to satellite sports TV in certain wings.

The new director (governor) of the jail, Audrey Park, who has worked with the Scottish Prison Service for 25 years, defended the conditions.

"When we went to buy the TVs we could only buy flatscreen, which are only 15 inches, as you can't get the bulky ones and the Freeview is built into TVs now. You can't not have it.

"I would describe the cells as decent cells for a 21st-century Scotland where prisoners have the ability to shower in their cell.

"At the end of the day, any prison cell is a concrete box which we shut at night. The punishment is losing one's liberty.

"I'm always hoping for innovation and prepared to try things without getting lambasted by the media. I'm aware we'll always be under scrutiny and there's no point in whingeing about it. We're geared up for an interesting time in that respect."

Prison bosses also say that having a shower in a cell will reduce the risk of violence in a communal shower block.

But Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken MSP is unconvinced.

He said: "I do not wish prisoners to live in Dickensian squalor, but there does come a time when the level of comfort does not provide any real deterrent to offending. By the sounds of Addiewell, we have reached that stage there.

"There are many people who might think that in these times of financial hardship, prisoners are getting a chance to live in conditions not available to the poorer, law-abiding sections of our society."

In Addiewell, prisoners will have the opportunity to develop new skills in preparation for their release and a crime-free life through various jobs and activities. Offenders will earn their wages based on how well they engage in their development in the "learning prison".

The Academy@Addiewell is an accredited Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) learning centre. There is also a skills training unit and learning resource centre.

Ms Park said: "We believe all people have the capacity to change and want to create an environment for people to want to change, and I firmly subscribe to that belief.

"Research is supportive of family and employment in this area and we have incentives for prisoners to take part. Family contact is very important.

"I have seen sons and grandsons of prisoners coming through the system saying 'my dad was asking for you' and that's fairly sobering. We aim to help break that cycle.

"We've been on site for 14 months now and I'm looking forward to the prisoners getting here now.

"If you're going to be in jail Addiewell is the place to come if you want to move on in life."

She added: "We have between 150-200 jobs for prisoners through a combination of learning, physical activity, education and work and visits.

"A prisoner's day will be as full as they want it to be, with financial incentives. Prisoners can be paid between £10 and £15 a week with bonuses on top."

Kalyx has a 25-year contract with SPS to keep 700 prisoners who will move into the prison between now and March from the North and South Lanarkshire courts, as well as around 150 from West Lothian. An all-male jail, it will also keep remand young offenders on top of the general prison population.

The prison will create 350 jobs in West Lothian, with 160 of those prison officers.

Chair of Addiewell Community Council Marion Kyle welcomed the jobs boost to the local economy and said the Addiewell community had "really opened up" to the idea of having a prison close by.

Ms Park said being a good neighbour to the local area and security were top priorities to the prison.

"It is a maximum security prison and the infrastructure in place reflects that," she adds.

"We have new technology which limits the opportunity of escape, biometric finger recognition and we have two detection dogs, Storm and George, who will be on site at all times. A lot of money and investment has been spent on that.

"The physical infrastructure is the most robust I have ever seen. Unless you hermetically seal a jail and have no employees or visitors you can't cut out the possibility of people bringing stuff into a prison.

"We will make that as difficult as possible, that's my job."

THE INSIDE TRACK ON LIFE INSIDE
The prison took just over two years to build on a site which used to be owned by James "Paraffin" Young and was possibly one of the first oil refineries in the world.

• Ownes Kalyx had to de-contaminate the land before building started as the area was once one of the biggest oil plants in Europe.

• The new prison will employ around 350 staff, including 160 prison officers.

• The prison can hold a total of 796 prisoners, in two house blocks with three wings.

• There are also cells with disabled facilities in each of the wings, which have two levels on two different floors.

• The prisoners' day begins at 7.30am for unlock and breakfast. Outside exercise follows from 8.45-9.45am, then work and education from 10am-1pm. Lunch is eaten betweem 1pm and 1.45, followed by an afternoon activity from 2-5pm. Numbers check is at 5.15-6pm, evening meal 6pm, recreation and activity at 6.45-9pm and finally lock-up from 9-9.30pm.