Under new government plans, answering a question on a Scottish piece of writing in Higher Education is to become compulsory.

Mike Russell, the Scottish education secretary, confirmed that the change is scheduled to come into effect from 2014.

The overarching purpose of the new approach, Mr Russell explained, is to ensure young people do not lose touch with Scotland's literary tradition.

"Scotland's contribution to literature is marked down the generations, Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson have provided work that has lasted the test of time, along with contemporary writers like Irvine Welsh and Liz Lochhead," he explained to people seeking teaching opportunities.

Mr Russell said it is important young people have the opportunity to learn about Scotland's literary tradition and "to inspire the future generations of Scottish writers".

In England, meanwhile, education secretary Michael Gove has argued that GSCE students should read as many as 50 books per academic year.