The voluntary sector has welcomed the bill

The proposals, aimed at restoring public confidence in the sector, will go out to consultation before they are formally examined by MSPs.

The voluntary sector has welcomed the Charities and Trustee Investment Bill.

Margaret Curran said it would, for the first time, provide a definition of a charity based on the principle of public benefit.

Last year the Scottish Executive admitted that confidence in Scotland's charity laws had been undermined following two high-profile cases.

Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) had its assets frozen after an investigation found that only �1.5m of the �13m it raised had actually been donated to charity.

We'd like to see a definition of public benefit in the bill and I think that would help guide the regulator in their decisions Martin Sime SCVO

Later in the year the Court of Session moved to have directors of the Moonbeams children's cancer charity permanently removed after they failed to answer allegations that just �70,000 of almost �3m raised went to sufferers and their families.

Under the new proposals, each charity will have to submit its accounts for scrutiny and more information about how they spend the money they raise will be made available.

There will also be increased powers of investigation for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

'Robust regime'

Ms Curran told BBC Radio Scotland: "At present it doesn't make it clear that organisations who want to be charities must show public benefit.

"I think overall this package will introduce the robust regime that I think people are expecting of charities in Scotland but also ensure that we have flexibility and that it is a proportionate regime.

"The majority of charities do not deserve to have their reputations tarnished because of the dishonest activities of a few individuals.

"This draft bill will repeal existing charity law and create one single, modern framework for charity regulation in Scotland.

Improving accountability

Martin Sime, chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said there were many proposals in the new bill which would make life simpler for charities and improve accountability.

But he said a clear definition of public benefit was needed.

He said: "We want MSPs to lead a debate here and we're hoping that legislation will make it clear what our government wants in this area.

"We'd like to see a definition of public benefit in the bill and I think that would help guide the regulator in their decisions.

"The key point is, a charity ought to mean what it says on the tin. The public understanding of what a charity is should accord with the legal understanding of who can become a charity."

The Scottish National Party has called on the Scottish Executive to state a date on which the bill will be introduced into the parliament.