MID Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley has backed a call from the trade union Unite for greater regulation of electricians in Scotland.

At present, anyone can claim to be an electrician and carry out electrical work in Scotland.

Unite the Union is working in partnership with the Scottish Joint Industry Board and the trade association for the electrical industry in Scotland (SELECT) to ask for the introduction of ‘protection of title’ for the profession of electrician.

They want to make it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no, or inadequate qualifications.

Above all the group say they want to see improved safety for both domestic and commercial consumers across Scotland.

Alex Rowley said: “It is worrying that there are some dodgy people claiming to be qualified electricians when this is not the case; especially given that 75% of fires in Scotland are caused by electricity.

"What is being called for is for the electrotechnical industry to be regulated in a similar way to the gas industry and this, it seems to me, makes sense.

"Faulty electrical installation and maintenance work puts the people of Scotland at risk of injury and death.”

Mr Rowley said he believed such an approach would result in higher standards across the board as well as peace of mind for individuals or companies that are accessing the services of electricians.