Mark Cummings was murdered by sex offender Stuart Leggate

Ms Jamieson spoke of "great admiration" for Margaret Ann Cummings' work following the murder of her eight-year-old son Mark in Glasgow.

He was killed by Stuart Leggate, a known sex offender, who lived in the same tower block in Royston.

Ms Cummings has called for "Mark's Law" which would allow parents information on paedophiles living nearby.

"She is a very brave woman," Ms Jamieson said.

"It is a great tribute to her that in her circumstances she is still campaigning to try to ensure that no other mother has to go through what she went through."

'Wider communities'

Ms Jamieson spoke to members of a special Scottish Parliament sub-committee, which has been set up to consider whether or not the details of sex offenders should be more widely disclosed.

With regard to that, the minister told MSPs: "I don't think there's any easy answers."

She explained that there was a need to balance "the very real fear of parents and the wider communities for their children" against concerns that have been raised, including the possibility that such a move could drive dangerous offenders underground.