A new transparent register of land ownership will be introduced if the SNP are re-elected, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister said the recent Panama Papers scandal shows the need for greater transparency.

If re-elected, the party has pledged to set a register of controlling interests.

Sturgeon said: "The people of Scotland have a right to know who owns Scotland's land. The SNP has been driving forward radical action on land reform and a re-elected SNP Government will continue that action in the next parliament.

"One of the first major actions of a newly elected SNP Government will be to consult on plans for a new register of controlling interests, which will shine the bright light of transparency onto the issue of who owns Scotland.

"The Panama Papers have exposed some of the issues around anonymous ownership of land, however, the people of Scotland shouldn't have to rely on leaked documents to find out who owns Scotland.

She added: "The new register of controlling interests will expose who owns Scotland. It's a vital next step on Scotland's land reform journey and by giving both votes to the SNP voters can ensure strong, radical action on land reform continues."

The Scottish Greens have dismissed the SNP's pledge and said recently passed legislation will provide a list.

Andy Wightman, the party's land reform spokesman, said: "This announcement by the SNP is an attempt to make existing legislation look like a radical promise.

"The register of controlling interests is already legal requirement under part three of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.

"The SNP is announcing that if elected, it will obey the law - nothing more. Any government is bound to obey the law."

Scottish Labour said it would conduct an "immediate review" of the recently passed land reform legislation.

Sarah Boyack, the party's environmental justice spokeswoman, said: "The revelations in the Panama Papers have put tax at the top of the agenda just as the SNP have been making excuses not to tax the top 1%.

"Labour would conduct an immediate review of the recently passed Land Reform legislation given that the SNP did not support maximum transparency as recommended by the Land Reform Review Group.

"We've also been calling for action to close the loopholes on Scottish Limited Partnerships. It is extraordinary that Scotland is being described as a tax haven for shady companies to set up here.

"We'd also ban public contracts going to tax avoiders, and tax the richest 1% to invest in our schools whilst the SNP make Tory excuses to protect the richest.

"Faced with the choice between using the powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest or carrying on the cuts Labour would use the powers to stop the cuts."

Nicola Sturgeon's pledge was also dismissed by the Liberal Democrats.

A party spokesman said: "This is utter incompetence. The SNP had their own land reform law passed three weeks ago. After nine years in power why did they miss this important element out? Why would anyone rely on the SNP for this when they have had their chance and blew it.

"Liberal Democrats have been clear that we want to see the creation of a land register as soon as possible to help with the reform of local taxation."

The Scottish Conservatives declined to comment.