Up to three-quarters of all Scots will be able to claim financial assistance towards legal costs under new plans unveiled by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

At present around two-fifths of the population north of the border can claim civil legal aid, which the Government is hoping to substantially increase by raising the maximum income applicants can have.

The upper disposable income threshold will rise from £10,306 to £25,000, making one million more people potentially eligible for financial help in fighting legal cases.

"I have long considered it unfair that people of relatively modest means can find themselves unable to pursue a complex and expensive legal action," MacAskill said.

"As a first step towards correcting that unfairness we will increase the financial eligibility limits for civil legal aid with an appropriately tapered contribution regime.

"From next spring, the upper limit for disposable income will increase to £25,000 which should mean that around three-quarters of the adult population will be potentially eligible for legal aid. For the first time in many a year legal aid is being rolled out, not rolled back," he added.

To qualify for legal aid individuals must prove both that they meet the financial criteria, as well demonstrating that the case they are pursuing has a solid legal grounding.