PUBLIC Health Minister Michael Matheson has welcomed a drop in the number of smokers in Australia, where tobacco plain packaging was introduced in 2011.

Figures show the number of daily smokers fell from 15.1% to 12.8% between 2010 and 2013, the biggest decrease since 1991.

Mr Matheson said: "Here in Scotland we are clear that plain packaging is the right thing to do. It is a bold step, but to build a generation free from tobacco, it is necessary to restrict the imagery and design that is used to encourage people, in particular young people, to use these lethal products."