Young runaways and child prostitutes should be quizzed to find out why they left home, a report has recommended.

Tougher legal action against people who abuse young runaways is also demanded in the report which was prepared by a working group appointed by the Scottish Executive.

Cathy Jamieson, the minister for young people, said she wanted to deal with the problem of running away and to end "the scandal" of child prostitution.

The interim report from the working group on young runaways and children abused through prostitution put forward a number of ideas including:

• a call for interviews with young runaways to find out why they left home and to help tackle the problems

• a greater focus on legal action against the abusers

• better support and advice and local protocols to deal with the issue.

Ms Jamieson said: "Every child has a right to grow up safe from harm and abuse. But for far too many of our children, that basic right is taken by those who seek to exploit them.

"Let us be clear, children sexually exploited through prostitution are victims. They do not choose that path."

She added: "But it is a path that many young people, including those who run away from home, can find themselves on."

Cathy Jamieson welcomed the report

The minister said youngsters seldom ran away in the hope of finding "streets paved with gold" but rather to escape grim circumstances.

Ms Jamieson said youngsters often felt that running away was their only option, but she said it simply put them at risk.

She said: "That is why we need services that support young people and their families before they reach crisis point.

"And it is absolutely right that, when preventative measures fail, we focus on securing the safety of children and punishing those who exploit and abuse them."

The report will now go out for further consultation until 24 March.

The working group included executive officials, members of children's charities, police chiefs, a children's panel chairs' group, the Crown Office and social workers.