Justice secretary Michael Matheson has rebuffed calls for a Scottish Government inquiry into policing of the miners' strike of 1984/85.

Matheson came under pressure from Labour's shadow secretary of state for Scotland David Anderson MP, a former miner himself, who renewed his campaign for a Scottish probe on Monday.

The justice minister rebuffed calls for a Scottish inquiry, however, instead pointing the finger of responsibility at Westminster.

Anderson was flanked by Lothians MSP Neil Findlay as he addressed a group of 30 retired miners at the National Mining Museum in Newtongrange, Midlothian.

The strikes, held between 1984 and 1985, caused a deep social rift between Margaret Thatcher's government and mining communities in Scotland, with their impact still felt today.

Large-scale disturbances took place at the Hunterston Power Station in Ayrshire and the Ravenscraig steel plant in Motherwell, resulting in the dismissals of hundreds of Scottish miners.

On the renewed campaign for an inquiry, Anderson said: "This decision by the home secretary Amber Rudd was more to do with protecting the then-Tory government of Thatcher than it was about providing people with truth and justice.

"Here in Scotland, the SNP has a chance to lead the way. Evidence shows Scottish miners were disproportionately impacted by politicised policing during the strike here.

"The decision by the Scottish Government to refuse to hold an inquiry looks weak and untenable. Ministers should order an inquiry and they should do it now."

Findlay joined the chorus of voices demanding action from the Scottish Government, saying: "SNP justice secretary Michael Matheson could take the lead across the UK and order an inquiry into the policing of the strike and a review of the convictions of the men and women who believe they were victims of a miscarriage of justice - or he can side with the Tories. The choice is his."

Matheson acknowledged the concerns of political interference during the strikes but stressed the responsibility for an inquiry lay with Westminster, not Holyrood.

He said: "Clearly, if there was any political interference in the operational policing of the dispute then that would be a matter of significant concern, not just to the miners but to the general public.

"It is therefore imperative that the UK Government commissions an independent, UK-wide investigation into this matter and as a first step, the UK Government must review and publish all papers it holds regarding the then government's involvement in the policing of the strike.

"This would provide transparency in relation to the concerns that have been raised.

"I believe this is a necessary step to address the sense of continuing injustice felt by many mining communities and to provide a broader insight into the role of the UK Government during what remains a highly controversial period."

Papers released under the UK Government's 30-year rule indicated that while Scotland provided only 10% of the total number of strikes across UK coalfields, 30% of the UK total dismissals were of Scottish miners.

During the miners' strike, 292 people were arrested at Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire in just one day, whereas at the Orgreave standoff the total was only 95.

The National Union of Mineworkers claims the total number of Scottish arrests during the strike could be as high as 1400.

Other campaigners claim Scottish police were instructed to arrest striking miners by Thatcher's government, with more than 500 convicted of criminal offences and over 200 sacked.