By Steve Bargeton, political editor

SCOTTISH MINISTERS pressing for a major clampdown on airguns were yesterday snubbed by their colleagues at Westminster.

First Minister Jack McConnell and his justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, wanted tough action following the death of two-year-old Andrew Morton, from Glasgow, who died after he was hit in the head by an airgun pellet.

Some 900 air weapons have been handed in by the public in a voluntary exercise promoted by the Executive and the police.

During the General Election campaign Home Secretary Charles Clarke promised to announce plans for cracking down on air gun crime before the end of July, agreed by Westminster and the Scottish Executive.

He did not rule out a ban at that stage, although a licensing scheme had appeared a more likely outcome.

But yesterday the UK Government, which is responsible for firearms legis- lation, unveiled new restrictions which fall far short of Scottish ministers’ aspirations.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears announced plans in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to raise the minimum age for owning air guns to 18, and placing tighter restrictions on where they can be fired.

Ms Jamieson said, “I welcome the proposals announced today, which will tighten the law on the indiscriminate and reckless firing of airguns from private property.

“As recent events have shown, airguns are neither harmless weapons nor toys.

“That is why we have been working with the Association of Chief Police Officers on a national hand-in scheme.

“And I believe today’s provisions will help us continue to tackle airgun misuse in Scotland as well as throughout the UK.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive denied the suggestion that she might be disappointed with the announcement.

However, in a clear indication that air guns were not a priority south of the border, she added, “There are different criminal systems in Scotland and England, and it might be argued that the problem is not quite as extensive (in England) as it is up here.”

The SNP said the proposals on air guns contained in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill did not go far enough.

Westminster home affairs spokesperson, Stewart Hosie, said, “The legislation has one big shortcoming. There is simply not enough to deal with the problem of airguns in Scotland.

“This is something the SNP group will look to remedy.

“I will be proposing amendments to the bill to devolve responsibility for controlling the sale or possession of airguns to the Scottish Parliament so that MSPs can discuss this issue in detail and come up with the right solution for Scotland.

“Controlling air guns is not high up the political agenda for the majority of English and Welsh MPs in the House of Commons.”