The parliament's local government committee is to hear evidence tomorrow about the Scottish Government's decision to call in the Trump organisation's planning application for a golfing development in Aberdeenshire. The decision of John Swinney, Finance Secretary, has serious implications for every local authority in Scotland. The minister has exercised a power that he was not previously thought to possess and his action may yet be subject to legal challenge. This introduces new uncertainties into the planning process at a time when that uncertainty ought to be reduced.

Furthermore, there are unavoidable questions about the transparency, indeed the integrity, of the minister's action. It is known that Alex Salmond and the government's chief planner held separate meetings with representatives of the Trump organisation, after the Aberdeenshire planning committee voted to reject the Trump application but before Mr Swinney's call-in was announced; but no information has been given about what was said, nor do we know whether records have been kept of the meetings.

I hope the parliamentary committee will find answers to at least three questions. What was said by all those who took part in the meetings between Mr Salmond and the chief planner and the Trump representatives? Who was the first person to suggest that the ministerial call-in might be appropriate? Why did Mr Swinney decide to call in the Trump application after the planning committee in Aberdeenshire had rejected it?

Christopher Mason, Leader, LibDem Group, Glasgow City Council.