SCOTTISH Tories are prepared to report the First Minister to Scotland's records watchdog after it emerged that her office destroys handwritten notes.

According to the Times, Nicola Sturgeon's office destroys notes made on government policy, which Conservative MSPs say could be a breach of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.

The Scottish Government has said the First Minister has complied with the Act.

Under the legislation, the Keeper of the Records of Scotland can carry out a review of public bodies, to ensure records are being correctly kept.

The First Minister has previously come under fire for her alleged use of an SNP email address for government business.

When challenged at Holyrood in October, Sturgeon said she conducts the majority of government business on paper.

Conservative MSP Donald Cameron told the Times: "This is bizarre and potentially unlawful behaviour.

"It appears the First Minister sends handwritten notes to her officials. Those officials then send emails to the Civil Service.

"Then her handwritten notes are destroyed. It reeks of secrecy and paranoia."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "The policy used for handling notes in ministerial offices predates this government and was introduced in 2004/05 when the then Scottish Executive moved to electronic records management.

"It was not introduced by the current First Minister and there has been no change under this First Minister in the handling of handwritten notes, with the practice the same as under her immediate predecessors.

"From 2004/05 onwards it was agreed that responses from ministers are relayed by ministerial offices to the relevant policy teams who are responsible for maintaining the official record.

"It is not the responsibility of ministerial offices to keep the official record.

"The Scottish Government is confident we comply with all records management requirements.

"The Scottish Government's records management policy is submitted to the Keeper of the Records and is reviewed annually, or sooner if changes to the law require it, as set out under the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.

"The Scottish Government has an agreement with the National Records of Scotland regarding the transmission of documents for the archive, which includes support for the transfer of electronic records."