The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the number of female prisoners in Scotland, despite concerns over the proposed size of a new women's jail, MSPs have been told.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said he did not accept that Scottish Prison Service plans for a new 300-cell facility at HMP Inverclyde contradict the Commission on Women Offenders findings.
Mr Matheson was updating Holyrood's Justice Committee on the progress being made in implementing the commission's recommendations.
The commission, chaired by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, was set up in 2011 following critical inspection reports of the country's women-only jail, Cornton Vale, near Stirling.
It reported back in 2012, recommending that the prison should be replaced with a smaller specialist facility for women serving long-term sentences and those who present a significant risk.
Most female prisoners on remand or serving short-term sentences should be held in local prisons, the commission said.
An invitation to tender for the new prison is due to be published in early 2015.
Alongside smaller regional units in Grampian, Edinburgh and Inverclyde, it will have the capacity to house Scotland's 450 female prisoners, with the aim of reducing that number in future years.
Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell said a report from the penal reform charity the Howard League "is very critical of the direction that the Government is taking in replacing Cornton Vale with what seems to be a large prison, which is contrary to the Angiolini commission report for a smaller specialised prison for women".
Mr Matheson said the "hub and spoke" approach recommended by the commission was being followed.
He added: "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.
"There is no difference between the view of the Howard League and the Scottish Government over our desire to reduce the female prisoner population.
"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.
"I don't accept the idea that if you build a facility which has so many places in it, you will just fill it."
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