Legal advice which reveals "a gobsmacking major problem" with the running of Scotland's new single police force will be kept private.

A power struggle is taking place between the chief constable of the new Police Service of Scotland (PSoS) and the head of its scrutiny body, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), over who controls certain administrative functions of the force.

PSoS Chief Constable Stephen House told Holyrood's Justice Committee that his lawyer pointed out "a gobsmacking major problem" in that the Police and Fire reform Act does not appear to give him control over police support staff.

He said he is "struggling" with SPA chairman Vic Emery over who should have day-to-day control of human resources and finance.