Mr Salmond was giving evidence to the Commission on Parliamentary ­Reform set up by Ken Macintosh, the presiding officer, to consider changes at Holyrood

Alex Salmond has suggested increasing the number of MSPs among a number of reforms to the Scottish parliament.

The former first minister also endorsed a national list to replace the eight regional lists from which 56 of Holyrood’s members are elected.

Other suggestions included more topical questions to let MSPs bring issues of the day to the chamber, and elected committee chairs to strengthen the committee scrutiny system.

Mr Salmond was giving evidence to the Commission on Parliamentary Reform set up by Ken Macintosh, the presiding officer, to consider changes at Holyrood.

Mr Salmond said that the prospect of either independence or further devolution of powers to Holyrood could make the case for an increase in MSPs. Committees could become overburdened by processing legislation and