The outcome of a consultation on whether police should have the power to search children under 18 for alcohol is not being pre-empted, the Justice Secretary has insisted.

Michael Matheson was responding to concerns raised at Holyrood's Justice Committee during its consideration of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government has brought forward amendments to the Bill in order to implement the recommendations of an advisory group on the controversial practice of stop-and-search.

It recommended that the use of non-statutory or consensual stop-and-search should end when a new code of practice comes into effect.

The group said Police Scotland had raised concerns about an inability to use search powers to remove alcohol from young people, and called for the issue to be considered separately via a public consultation.

One of the amendments will allow Scottish ministers to legislate to provide a power to stop-and-search children under 18 for alcohol, subject to Parliament's approval.

Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes pointed out concerns raised by organisations including Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People that the move would be "premature".

She said: "(The charity) Children 1st indicate that they are concerned about the possibility that such a power could lead to unintended consequences for children, for example criminalisation and a higher rate of statutory stop-and-search in Scotland.

"The review group went on to conclude, 'we therefore recommend this should be considered separately subject to wider consultation'.

"I agree that there is no need to have this provision in this Bill."

Mr Matheson said: "The intention behind this is not to pre-empt anything, but to create an enabling power so that following consultation as recommended by the advisory group that if that power is necessary in order to create the statutory provision for the searching of those under 18 for alcohol, Parliament will have an opportunity to address that.

"I do think there's an inherent danger that should we conduct a consultation and then find that the recommendation is that we should have something, there is a gap identified, that we have no legislative vehicle to then pursue that issue if we don't take forward this particular provision."

Members of the committee backed the inclusion of the provision in the Bill by eight votes to one.

Committee members backed a Government provision to bring in the code of practice as well as an amendment from Ms McInnes stipulating that it must be brought before the Scottish Parliament no later than one year after the Bill receives Royal Assent.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "After an 18 month long campaign by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the SNP has finally conceded defeat and adopted my proposals for the abolition of so-called consensual stop-and-search.

"It shouldn't have required dozens of charities, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Children's Commissioner and an independent expert group to back my plans before the Scottish Government admitted there was anything wrong.

"Meanwhile, Police Scotland conducted one million unlawful searches and young and vulnerable people were targeted.

"I'm delighted the committee today agreed to my amendments, ensuring ministers can't backtrack."