The number of prisoners is at an all-time high

On an average day there were 519 people who had been returned to jail after being released under supervision or on licence - up from 400 in 2005/06.

The Scottish Tories said the figures were "dramatic and worrying".

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said a change in direction was needed on prisons.

The figure for inmates who had been recalled from supervision or licence is 10 times the number in 1997/98, when it stood at 51.

Female inmates

A total of 1,270 people were released on home detention curfews, 235 of whom were recalled to custody.

The Scottish Executive statistical bulletin also showed a dramatic rise in the number of female inmates over the last decade.

The average daily prison population increased by 90% to 353 last year.

The rise over the last decade was five times the 16% increase seen in the male prison population.

I believe the time is right for a serious change of direction in Scotland's prisons policy Kenny MacAskill Justice Secretary

The figure for all prisoners totalled 7,183 in 2006/07, up 5% on the previous year and the highest annual level ever recorded.

The figures were released only days after the country's daily prison population reached an all-time high.

A total of 7,497 people were held in Scotland's jails on Tuesday.

There was a 1% fall in the number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to four years or more, while the number of short-term adult prisoners rose by 1%.

The Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman, Bill Aitken, said the rise in prisoners recalled from licence or supervision was "dramatic and worrying".

He said the figures provided further proof that automatic early release had been an "unmitigated" disaster.

The focus should be on how we effectively rehabilitate prisoners to ensure they do not fall into reoffending Paul Martin Labour MSP

The Scottish government said more offenders were now being released on licence, while the number of extended sentences had also increased.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the executive was committed to delivering legislation, passed by the last parliament, to end automatic early release.

He said the government was considering how best to introduce such a change.

"I am also setting up a commission to take an independent look at the role of prison in modern Scotland and we are already looking at revitalising and refreshing community sentencing to produce credible - and tough - substitutes for prison," he said.

The minister said this could help protect the public and enable offenders to turn their lives around.

'Vast sums'

"I believe the time is right for a serious change of direction in Scotland's prisons policy," he said.

"Currently we spend vast sums of taxpayers' money on offenders while reoffending by those released from prison is getting worse.

"I am already examining what more can be done to reform and revitalise community sentences and acknowledge there is still some work to be done in terms of improving these disposals."

Labour MSP Paul Martin said the figures were "concerning".