More than 250 prisoners were returned to jail

Professor Sandy Cameron called for extra resources to help the board cope with an expected increase in workload.

The Scottish Executive said that it was not possible to put a figure on how much work the changes would create.

A spokesman said the changes would be a "refocusing" of parole board duties rather than an addition.

He said that there would be a formal implementation procedure which would consider the issue of resources.

The parole board's annual report showed that 370 offenders were referred back to the board after being released from prison last year.

It said 246 of these were sent back to custody for breaching their licence.

The report said that 16 of the 246 were life prisoners who had been out on licence.

Further crimes

The figures also included 35 people who had been serving an extended sentence, where they were being monitored in the community.

Eleven children or young people were also recalled to custody during the period.

Prof Cameron said the number of prisoners who were being recalled was a concern but he stressed that not all of those who were returned to custody would have committed further crimes.

He said many had failed to comply with conditions such as supervisory appointments.

Prof Cameron said the vast bulk of people who were recalled had been prisoners serving a sentence of four years or more who had been released after serving two thirds of their sentence.

The policy of releasing prisoners, especially dangerous long-term ones, on a pre-determined date does not work Annabel Goldie Scottish Conservative leader

Earlier this week Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced plans for a new system which would see prisoners given a minimum period in custody of half their total sentence.

Offenders would then be monitored as they served the "community part" of their sentence and would be returned to prison if they breached their licence.

Scottish National Party justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said: "Clearly the Parole Board is under pressure, particularly given the fact that early release could double its workload.

"It is absolutely vital that the Labour and Lib Dem government ensures the body is adequately resourced to ensure full implementation of the proposals so they are not hamstrung by lack of funding."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "The policy of releasing prisoners, especially dangerous long-term ones, on a pre-determined date does not work.

"If we are to have regard to public safety, which should be paramount, then we should ensure that all prisoners convicted of crimes of violence, no matter how long ago, should not be released until they have earned the right with demonstrable evidence of full co-operation with rehabilitation programmes."