BUILDING a new prison for women doesn't mean judges and sheriffs are going to fill it said justice secretary Michael Matheson.

Mr Matheson said plans for a new jail in Inverclyde to replace Cornton Vale is compatible with the commitment to reduce the female prison population.

The new prison will hold up to 300 prisoners, but there will be regional centres in Grampian and Edinburgh to keep women as close to home as possible.

Mr Matheson was quizzed on the plans by MSPs on the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee.

He said: "I don't agree that if you build a facility you just fill it. In Polmont (young offenders) for example numbers have been falling."

He said there was a greater range of community sentences and initiatives available and sheriffs needed to have greater confidence in them.

He added: The challenge around Inverclyde is what impact community measures will have on the reduction in the female prison population."

The Commission on Women Offenders chaired by former Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini, recommended smaller prison facilities for women and after inspections criticised Cornton Vale near Striling.

It said women should be held closer to home in smaller units.

Mr Matheson said the 'hub and spoke' model was compatible with the commission findings.

He said: "I am very much of the view that we are taking forward the approach that was outlined by the commission around the hub and spoke approach, but the final configuration in terms of size is a matter I want to take just a wee bit of time to understand...before coming to any final decision on what approach we should take going forward."

"If the decision is to go with the existing proposal, that in no way reflects a lack of determination on our part to see a reduction in our female prisoner population in Scotland."