Salmond to face Trump questions

Mr Salmond has defended his role in the affair

First Minister Alex Salmond is to be questioned by MSPs next week over his handling of the Donald Trump golf resort affair.

Holyrood's local government committee decided to probe the Scottish Government's decision to "call in" the £1bn resort plans for Aberdeenshire.

Meanwhile Finance Secretary John Swinney, who has the final say on the plans, declined to comment.

He was quizzed as he launched a new planning framework for Scotland.

The committee's decision came after an Aberdeenshire Council committee rejected Mr Trump's plans for the Menie Estate, which include two golf courses, a hotel and housing.

Sleaze claim

Mr Salmond has defended his role in the affair, insisting he acted properly.

He angrily rejected suggestions by Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen that there was a "smell of sleaze" hanging over the handling of the application.

Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Alan Campbell and Scottish Government chief planner Jim McKinnon are likely to be called to the same committee meeting.

The new planning framework has listed nine large infrastructure projects as national priorities but Mr Swinney, along with Mr McKinnon, insisted this would have no bearing on private developments such as the Trump project.

The finance secretary will also be questioned by the committee, on 16 January.