One week after the ringleaders of Scotland's biggest paedophile ring were jailed for life, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is preparing to make a statement to the Scottish parliament.

Opposition parties called for Mr MacAskill to address MSPs following the sentencing of Neil Strachan and James Rennie, who will be under lifelong restriction when they are released from prison for child pornography and abuse offences.

Strachan was already on the sex offenders register for previous offences when he went on to commit the crimes.

Mr MacAskill will now address Holyrood, after considering a report from Lothian and Borders Police detailing the issues which have arisen from the case.

He came under fire last week for admitting he hadn't yet read the brief, but later insisted it was still to be finalised.

The Justice Secretary is expected to use his statement to praise the police and the front-line services who worked with them on Operation Algebra to break the paedophile network.

He said the Government would "learn lessons" from the case and has warned the "net is closing" on those who abuse youngsters.

Six other members of the ring had previously been convicted and Mr MacAskill, himself a lawyer, said it was a "landmark" case.

Mr MacAskill is also expected to outline changes currently being brought in through the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill which will tighten restrictions on sex offenders.

A Tayside pilot scheme which allows parents and carers to find out from the police if someone in contact with children is a sex offender is under way at the moment. The Government has already said it will consider extending the programme if it is judged to be a success when examined next year.