Ministers have given their backing to plans to license shops which sell tobacco in an attempt to tackle under-age smoking and drive rogue traders out of business.

Christine Grahame, an SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, outlined her proposals two months ago and said that she planned to bring forward a private members' bill to get the scheme on the statute book.

She said the current law on tobacco sales was not properly enforced, making it too easy for those under the age of 18 to buy cigarettes.

Ms Grahame also said tightening the law would make it harder for those who currently sell tobacco on the black market to continue trading.

The idea has been welcomed by health campaigners and anti-smoking organisations, although shopkeepers have voiced their concerns. But it emerged yesterday that tobacco licensing will form part of an action plan on smoking to be published by the Scottish Government later this year.

A Scottish Government source said: "We have raised the age for buying cigarettes to 18 and we want to do more. We want to take further steps to discourage people from smoking and ensure there is adequate enforcement where people break the law, which is where licensing comes in."