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Looked after children should be able to access the same opportunities as other children, according to the minister for education and young people Cathy Jamieson.

Jamieson said: "I want to see every child get the opportunities required to reach his or her full potential. Looked after children are amongst the most vulnerable young people in Scotland, and we have a particular responsibility to help meet their needs."

She said that £10 million had been invested to improve the educational facilities available to looked after young people, and said the eventual aim would be to ensure children in care perform as well as their peers at school.

Jamieson said there were a small number of children in Scotland in secure accommodation, and confirmed the ministerial working group on youth crime, established last week, would look at the secure accommodation estate, and establish whether the right provision was there to help young people.

The working group will consist of Jamieson, deputy first minister Jim Wallace, minister for social justice Margaret Curran, the Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, and will be chaired by first minister Jack McConnell. It will meet for the first time this week.