Contracted Sector Prisons are subject to the same procedures as public sector prisons for HM Inspector of Prisons. Within three months of the publication of a report on any prison, the National Offender Management Service is required to develop and submit an action plan to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. This plan will respond to every recommendation made in the report. After a further nine months this action plan is updated. Ministers approve both action plans. The action plans enable progress to be monitored.