A Conservative MSP has been reported to Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body (SPCB) after it emerged he hired is own firm to build a website and then claimed the costs back on expenses, STV News has learned.

Finlay Carson paid CMS Broadband Ltd, which he co-owns with his brother, John Carson, £1200 to create a website for his parliamentary duties.

While serving as an MSP, Carson has pledged not to take any money from the firm but continues to serve as a director and major shareholder.

A member of the public has now sent an official complaint to the Scottish Parliament's chief executive, Sir Paul Grice, and a further letter to the standards commissioner following STV News' report on the matter on Monday.

A spokesman for the party said Carson "will of course comply with whatever the parliamentary authorities advise and pay back any costs."

Holyrood's expenses system is underpinned by a series of general principles including selflessness.

No claim may be made by an MSP "in order to gain financial or other benefit for the member or any other person".

The standards commissioner, Bill Thomson, found fellow Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett in breach of Holyrood's rules on two separate occasions last month.

Burnett was banned from asking any written questions for a fortnight following the ruling.

SNP MSP George Adam said: "This looks like yet another case of a Tory facing a standards complaint after trying to use their position as an MSP for personal profit.

"We've seen with Alexander Burnett the trouble that this can get you in - if Finlay Carson financially benefited from billing the taxpayer to a company in which he is a significant shareholder then he should return this money urgently.

"This group of right-wing Tories are more interested in standing up for their own businesses than their constituents."