Clive Fairweather: Gave evidence

He also questioned claims by Justice Minister Jim Wallace that Peterhead Prison is "reaching the end of its useful life".

He called for an independent survey to be carried out into the condition of the Aberdeenshire jail.

Mr Wallace recommended that the jail should close following the executive's Prison Estates Review.

He told parliament in March that refurbishing Peterhead, which houses an award-winning rehabilitation programme for sex offenders, did not represent good value for money and that it should close.

Major recommendations

But Mr Fairweather said he had been "puzzled" by claims that Peterhead was beyond repair.

He added: "When I look back on all the reports that I've ever written going back to 1995, I can't recall any major recommendations about the state of the buildings."

He said that while the prisoners from Peterhead could be transferred, it would take time for the necessary regime to emerge that would make the sex offenders scheme a success.

He said it had taken between four and six years for staff at Peterhead to get used to the programme and estimated that it would take between three and five years to be re-created at another jail.