The Scottish Government's decision not to give children equal protection from violence has been branded "a source of national shame".

Under current legislation in Scotland, it is illegal to punish a child by striking them to the head, shaking them or hitting them with an implement.

A case of "justifiable assault" can be put forward by a parent if they are caught hitting their child, however, meaning rates of conviction for smacking in Scotland are low.

Scotland remains one of only four countries in the EU that has yet to commit to abolishing this particular line of defence.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur MSP submitted a written parliamentary question, calling for a repeal of the legislation and urging the government to "get with the times".

He said: "It is indefensible that SNP ministers continue to ignore pleas to provide children with equal protection from assault.

"Why should they have less right to protection from violence than adults living in the same household?

"The evidence from dozens of studies is irrefutable - it damages children's well-being, risks turning into physical violence and increases problems such as aggression and anxiety which can continue into adulthood."

He added: "That is why experts from the UN to the children's commissioner, police officers, social workers, nurses, children's and parenting charities and many more have called for children to be given equal protection under the law.

"It is a source of national shame and not at all justifiable that our law continues to accommodate what it describes in Victorian fashion as the "justifiable assault" of children.

"Ministers need to get with the times and show leadership."

The SNP's minister for childcare and early years, Mark McDonald MSP, responded by saying there are "no plans" to review the current legislation.

He said: "The Scottish Government is opposed to the physical punishment of children.

"The Scottish Government does not, however, wish to see parents unnecessarily or unreasonably criminalised and we have no plans to bring forward legislation to repeal existing legal defences for parents in relation to physical punishment."

The Scottish Conservatives spoke out in support of the current legislation, calling for a parents to have the right to choose their children's punishment to be respected.

Shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: "It is obviously important that we protect our children from undue harm.

"However, parents should have the right to choose the punishment they feel is appropriate for their child. In this respect we support the current legislation which makes clear that "reasonable chastisement" is perfectly acceptable.

"Any move that would stop this from being the case would be unnecessary and invasive, and one that many families in Scotland would be against."