Kenny MacAskill has today (Tuesday) called for the 'mish mash' of UK firearms legislation to be consolidated, claiming that effective licensing was now essential.

"At our Firearms Summit earlier this month it was agreed the current system of firearms licensing and the wider legislation around firearms is simply not fit for purpose," the Justice Minister said.

"From police and gun control campaigners to shooting representatives the view was clear - we need to change the current mishmash of legislation that's been amended and extended over the last forty years."

Firearms certificate figures published today re-enforce the need to make the current licensing system easier for police to enforce and legitimate users to comply with, he says.

Statistics showed there were 66,893 firearms held on certificate, a slight increase on the previous year, and 301 registered firearms dealers in Scotland - a 6 per cent increase.

"I will keep calling on the UK Government to either take action, or devolve the powers so that we can. It is absolutely essential that we have a licensing system that the police can effectively enforce. It also needs to be clear what is expected of legitimate users of firearms so that they can comply with it.

"The fact that we've got more registered dealers and more firearms on certificate only serves to emphasise the fact that we need a clear, easily understandable and enforceable system to protect Scotland's communities."