Judges in all UK jurisdictions are required to declare relevant interests in cases before them but are not required to disclose them generally in a register.

Holyrood’s Justice Committee has now said in a response to a petition on the issue that it is “minded” to support the principle of a judicial register of interests.

Members have urged the Lord President, Lord Carloway to appear before them to explain why a register is unnecessary.

Committee convenor Margaret Mitchell has also written to Lord Carloway to ask him whether the creation of such a register would require primary legislation.