Mr Trump's plans were rejected then called in by the SNP

It came as the leader of the Scottish CBI backed the SNP's decision to have the final say on the proposals.

Labour and the Tories said they would consider backing the call for a parliamentary inquiry.

Questions have been asked over the role of senior government figures, but SNP MSP Alex Neil said an inquiry was a "complete waste of time".

First Minister Alex Salmond met Donald Trump's representatives the day before ministers decided to "call in" the golf resort plans for the Menie Estate, following its rejection on the casting vote by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee.

Everybody in the Scottish Government has followed all the codes to the letter and everything has been done according to the rule book Alex Neil SNP MSP

He is forbidden from taking part in the planning process but insisted that, because the plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 36 golf villas fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides.

It also emerged that on the day ministers called in the application, Trump representatives were with the government's chief planner, Jim Mackinnon, during a phone call to the council chief executive.

However, Mr Trump's aides had been asked to leave the room before the discussion took place.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that he wanted to see the Trump development go ahead, but said there were questions to be asked over whether there had been improper behaviour.

'No fear'

The Aberdeen South MSP, and former deputy first minister, said: "It's about the integrity of the planning system, it's about whether there is to be a different approach, a different set of rules for a rich American applicant compared to everyone else who has to go through the planning process."

Asked whether an inquiry would damage Scotland's international business reputation or scare off Mr Trump altogether, he said: "That sort of line of questioning suggests that the end justifies the means and that you can manipulate, that you can bend or break the rules, that you can have illegal behaviour, because we are not certain here that the town and country planning acts have been followed."

Mr Neil said the SNP had nothing to fear from an inquiry, adding: "It's unnecessary and a complete waste of time.

Ministers will decide on the Trump plans for the Menie Estate

"There's no need for an inquiry, there's no justification for an inquiry, because everybody in the Scottish Government has followed all the codes to the letter and everything has been done according to the rule book."

Mr Neil also claimed Mr Stephen broke the ministerial code of conduct during the last Scottish government by coming out in favour of a particular route for the planned Aberdeen bypass.

The Scottish Government said MSPs had asked a large number of parliamentary questions on the Trump application and that information gathered by officials was currently being considered by Finance Secretary John Swinney, who will make the final decision on the plans.

"Once Mr Swinney is satisfied that the material properly addresses the issues raised, he will make it public," a government response stated.

Meanwhile, CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said his organisation was "wholly supportive" of the government's decision to call in the planning application.

"This is much more important than simply an isolated inward investment project for the north east of Scotland," he said.