A powerful new anti-sleaze watchdog is to be appointed to regulate the conduct of members of the Scottish parliament.

New legislation proposed by the Scottish parliament's standards committee will create a standards commissioner with independent powers to investigate MSPs' conduct

Following the controversy surrounding the appointment of the Westminster commissioner, Elizabeth Filkin, the Scottish commissioner is to be appointed by a "fully transparent" process and will have "security of tenure".

The convener of the standards committee, Mike Rumbles MSP, said the new commissioner, who will be appointed for an initial term of five years, will have real powers to call MSPs to account.

"This is an important bill which will enable a new standards commissioner to investigate complaints against MSPs in a thorough, fair, impartial fashion," he said.

"Our commissioner will have statutory powers to summon witnesses and compel evidence. We view this as being essential in guaranteeing the independence and authority of the post."

He said that the combination of statutory powers and a transparent appointment and removal procedure demonstrated that MSPs were "committed to ensuring the highest standards of conduct and probity".