Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill today made a statement to Parliament's Justice Committee, detailing progress made on sex offender control.

The Justice Committee's recommendation that a legal requirement be imposed on all local authority and other social rented housing applicants to declare on forms whether or not they are on the sex offenders register, is the sole recommendation that is not being implemented.

"As my predecessor and I had previously indicated, the potential legal implications of this recommendation required careful consideration. Having done that, we now understand that it is not possible to introduce the legislation proposed," he said.

"However, MAPPAs have significantly strengthened the process for assessing offenders' accommodation arrangements - whether public or private sector - since this recommendation was made.

"The National Accomodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO) has been introduced, supported by funding for new Sex Offender Liaison Officers and MAPPAs now ensure that information is properly shared with housing providers, with whom any concerns about accommodation can be raised."

 "Parliament and consecutive administrations have worked closely with justice agencies to significantly reform the management of sex offenders over the last decade - building on three expert reviews and the cross-party report to which I'm responding.

"The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPAs), introduced in 2007, are key to these improvements - ensuring police, social workers and other local agencies are working more closely than ever to reduce risks posed by individual sex offenders and to further safeguard communities.

"The first MAPPA annual reports, which we published last autumn, provide unprecedented detail about their work across Scotland - as well as confirming that the vast majority of offenders comply with conditions imposed on them.

"In recent months we have introduced legislation to strengthen the courts' power to impose obligations, as well as restrictions, on sex offenders, including requiring them to provide police with more personal information.

"The Criminal Justice & Licensing Bill will also enable us to require any sex offender declaring themselves homeless to report on a weekly or other regular basis to the police.

"We have also produced online and print materials to inform and advise families about child sexual abuse and measures to reduce risks

"And building on the increased transparency of the MAPPA annual reporting system we have reached an agreement with ACPOS to routinely publish figures for 'missing' sex offenders, including those thought to be abroad and those whose whereabouts is unknown.

"We're continuing to work with criminal justice agencies to assess the impact of recent reforms, to ensure any concerns are identified and addressed, best practice promoted and new ways of working fully explored.

"That's why - going beyond the sub-committee report - I've announced a pilot to begin in Tayside later this year, providing parents with improved access to information about known offenders who may be in contact with their children."