The number of prisoners reached more than 7,000

Figures show prisoner numbers rose 4% between 2003 and 2004 from 6,524 to 6,805, hitting 7,000 at one point.

There was also a 13% rise in the number of female prisoners, increasing from 297 in 2003 to 336 last year.

The Scottish Executive said reform was under way to reduce re-offending. The SNP called the figures "shameful", while the Tories welcomed the rise.

The provisional 2004 figures showed an average of 1,253 remand prisoners, with 2,637 prisoners sentenced to less than four years and 2,914 prisoners sentenced to four years and over.

We believe in serious time for serious crimes Executive spokesman

The average daily population of remand prisoners went up by 3% between 2003 and 2004.

And over the same period, the average daily population of prisoners sentenced to less than four years increased by 4%, with the number sentenced to four years or more increasing by 5%.

The highest population ever recorded was 7,046, on 16 March 2004, while the number of young offenders remained virtually unchanged at 821.

The executive spokesman said the recently published Criminal Justice Plan set out a programme to tackle re-offending.

The spokesman added: "We believe in serious time for serious crimes.

'Crimes of poverty'

"But we also know that jail doesn't work for minor offenders who only spend a few weeks in jail.

"We can do more to turn those lives around by dealing them tough community sentences - sentences that free up prison service resources to deal with those offenders who really should be in jail."

The Scottish Prison Service is currently investing the equivalent of �1.5m a week to improve prison conditions.

Two new prisons are planned for Scotland as well as proposals to electronically tag remand prisoners and home visits for low-risk inmates nearing the end of their sentences.

The Tories called for more people to be put in jail

SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill branded the statistics "shameful".

He said: "Prisons are necessary, but only for the most dangerous offenders whose crimes mean there is no alternative.

"Others, whether drug addicts, alcoholics or minor offenders, should be dealt with through rehabilitation, which is also cheaper than sending them to prison."

The Scottish Socialist Party blamed the rise on "crimes of poverty".

Party convener Colin Fox said too many people, such as those unable to pay fines, ended up in jail.

But Tory deputy justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell accused the executive of being a "soft touch".