SNP MSPs are expected to attend a cross-party summit on plans to build a new women's prison in Greenock, strengthening the suggestion that Justice Secretary Michael Matheson may be considering a U-turn over the controversial scheme.

Rod Campbell MSP and Stuart McMillan MSP are both expected to attend the summit, which has been convened by Independent Highlands and Islands MSP Jean Urquhart.

Representatives of the Scottish Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems have also confirmed they will attend, along with groups including Women For Independence, Engender, Howard League Scotland and Circle Scotland.

Opponents of the plans have warned that building a new women's jail with the potential to be larger than the current HMP Cornton Vale, flies in the face of recommendations from previous inquiries into women offenders.

Critics of the plans point out that despite conviction rates remaining stable, numbers of women sent to jail have more than doubled since 2000, and and argue that building a prison as big as, or bigger than, Cornton Vale will only exacerbate the problem.

Former Lord Advocate Elish Angilini QC's commission on Women Offenders in 2012 recommended the existing women's prison at HMP Cornton Vale be closed and replaced with a smaller specialist prison for only those women offenders posing the most significant risk.

Ms Urquhart said: "We imprison far too many people in this country. Women offenders in particular are far less likely to represent any danger to the public, and locking them up is far more likely to cause harm to their families - possibly including increasing the likelihood of their children going on to offend.

"I believe the Scottish Government understands the need for better community sentencing and less incarceration. They should have the courage of their convictions and put their money into making community sentencing work, not building a dumping ground for women in case it doesn't."