Second reading of Scotland Billpublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
The second reading of the Scotland Bill gets under way in the House of Commons.
Summary
Second reading for Scotland Bill
Scottish budget cut 'not as bad'
Sturgeon begins visit to New York
Second reading of Scotland Billpublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
NEWS ELSEWHERE: University strike threatpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Staff at Aberdeen University say they would be prepared to go on strike in a dispute over planned job losses.
The university is proposing to cut 150 jobs and has not ruled out compulsory redundancies.
Nearly three quarters of University and College Union members who voted in a ballot to say they would be prepared to strike. The union will discuss what action they may take later.
Reaction on twitterpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Ahead of second reading of Scotland Bill this afternoon, SNP MP Angus MacNeil tweets:, external Even Daily Record warns UK Gov on powers for Scotland!! #ScotlandBill
Image source, TwitterMeanwhile, Scottish Green leader Patrick Harvie, external and Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray, external also point towards their reaction to the Scotland Bill in the Daily Record:
Image source, Twitter
Image source, TwitterEmergency questioning continuespublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
MPs ask a series of questions about 68 suspected illegal immigrants, including two pregnant women and 15 children, who were found inside four lorries at a port in Essex. Home Office Minister James Brokenshire takes the floor of the House to answer questions from the health of the pregnant women to whether there will be any prosecutions.
Ticked offpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Tim Reid
Political correspondent, BBC NewsSNP MP John Nicolson ticked off by the Speaker for reading a newspaper in the Chamber.
NEWS ELSEWHERE: A980 crashpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
An air ambulance has been sent to the scene of a crash after a car went into a burn in Aberdeenshire this afternoon.
The accident happened on the A980, south of Muir of Fowlis, at about 13:45.
Police Scotland said a silver Ford Focus had gone into a small burn, and a man who was trapped was freed.
Party positions on Scotland Billpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
What have politicians been saying ahead of the House of Commons Scotland Bill debate?
Labour MP Ian Murray: "What this [Scotland Bill] does is give the Scottish Parliament much more power over taxes."
SNP's deputy leader Stewart Hosie: "There will be a whole series of amendments to bring it [Scotland Bill] up to where it should be as a bare minimum."
Conservative minister David Mundell: "I am absolutely clear that the Scotland Bill does fulfil in full the recommendations of the Smith Commission."
Emergency questionpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
An emergency question on illegal immigrants is asked prior to the start of the Scotland Bill second reading debate.
Budget cut 'less than expected'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
.... and in other political news, the Treasury has confirmed that cuts to Scotland's budget this year will be £70m less than estimated.
Image source, PAImage caption, George Osborne announced the billions in savings during a debate in the House of Commons
Chancellor George Osborne said last week that the Scottish government could lose £176.8m but confirmed figures now show the reduction will be £107m.
Scotland's Finance Minister John Swinney welcomed the news but said there was "more work to do".
The updated figures were released ahead of a meeting between Mr Swinney and Mr Osborne in London on Monday.
Defence questionspublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Ahead of the Scotland Bill debate, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is answering backbench questions on defence.
Scotland Bill: Second readingpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
The second reading of the Scotland Bill is about to begin.
MPs will consider and vote on plans to devolve more powers to Scotland.
The bill would give Holyrood control over income tax rates and bands, a half share in VAT revenues and a greater say over welfare powers in Scotland, but the SNP say the bill falls short in almost every way.
Stay with us for live updates from the Chamber, or watch the debate here on Democracy Live.
50 Shades of bluepublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Glasgow Warriors assistant coach, Shade Munro, has been appointed the new head coach of the Scotland Women's team.
He will take charge of the side over the summer.
Image source, SNSMunro, 48, who was capped seven times for Scotland, helped Glasgow Warriors win the Pro 12 title last month.
He has also coached Scotland A and Glasgow Hawks.
The former lock said: "I've got a lot of experience in professional rugby and I'm keen to bring that to the women's game, to link the two and move the team on."
Care company 'needs urgent improvements'published at 15:19 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
A company that provides at-home care for elderly and disabled people in Edinburgh needs to make "urgent improvements", according to The Care Inspectorate.
Image source, PAAllied Healthcare have been issued with a formal improvement notice after an inspection by the care watchdog raised serious concerns about visit times and medication procedures.
The service, based at the city's Newhaven Road, has until the end of next months to demonstrate that changes have been made or risk having its registration cancelled by the Care Inspectorate.
Firefighters free man from crashpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Firefighters using hydraulic equipment have freed a man from his car after it was involved in a crash with a van in the south of Scotland.
Emergency services were called to Port Road in Dalbeattie at about 11:00.
Fire crews from Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas and Dumfries were sent to the scene and helped to remove the man from his Nissan Micra.
He was taken to Dumfries Infirmary for treatment while the van driver received a precautionary check-up.
Pensioner robbed by three thievespublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Police are investigating after a Stirlingshire pensioner was robbed by two men and a woman who broke into his house.
Image source, GoogleThe 69-year-old victim disturbed the robbers during the break-in at his home on Main Street in East Plean in the early hours of Saturday.
The gang threatened him before stealing a quantity of cash and jewellery.
The male suspects were in their early to mid 20s, while police believe the woman may called Sonia.
10 players are Saint packingpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
BBC Sport
ScotlandTen players are leaving St Mirren following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNS Group Bill MurrayGregg Wylde, Marian Kello, Victor Genev, Jeroen Tesselaar and Yoann Arquin have been released.
Youth team players Mark Williams, Mo Yaqub and Adam Brown are also exiting, along with on-loan duo James Dayton and Emmanuel Sonupe.
New manager Ian Murray will hold talks with Steven Thompson, Alan Gow and John McGinn, who are all out of contract.
If McGinn, 20, moves on the Paisley club will be due around £270,000 in compensation.
Powerful argumentpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Ahead of MPs debating the Scotland Bill, Jo Coburn on the BBC's Daily Politics show heard from Conservative MP Iain Stewart, who said the proposed powers would make the Scottish Parliament "one of the most powerful devolved parliaments anywhere in world".
Image source, EPABut SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said the bill did "not give us a powerhouse parliament, these are very modest measures". Watch it here.
Queens gig 'first of many'published at 14:44 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Scottish Championship side Queen of the South say a gig held at their Palmerston Park ground on Friday night is likely to be the "first of many".
The Doonhamers hosted Status Quo, Big Country and Reef in the first ever live concert at the Dumfries ground.
Image source, Melanie HorneOrganisers said the event had been a success with a crowd of thousands turning out.
Chairman Billy Hewitson said the event had shown it had the "perfect outdoor facility" for concerts in the town.
Etihad launches Edinburgh routepublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Etihad Airways has launched a new service to Edinburgh from the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
Image source, Ian GeorgesonThe inaugural flight EY28 landed this morning, where it was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute from the airport's fire service and to the sound of bagpipes.
Edinburgh is Etihad's first Scottish destination.
Dave King - Off the fieldpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 8 June 2015
Richard Wilson
BBC ScotlandRangers chairman Dave King's attentions turn to the business of the club. Here is more of Richard Wilson's live commentary of the Ibrox press conference, external:
Level of investment depends on other factors, retail, season tickets, etc. Hope to sell out season tickets to bring in £12m to £13m
Here to rebuild the club for a longer period of time, but business risk of staying in Champ is lower
We will need money now to "beef up squad". Players to be competitive in Premiership, so there will be substantial investment in the coming months
King: "I will invest, but so will others"
Image source, SNSFunding plan is to spend what it takes to go up and be competitive in the top-flight. We have started process of engagement with Sports Direct
We have a board that fans can trust, investors have put money in and fans can be co-investors
We're asking fans to support and trust us. It's an awkward situation we find ourselves in, new executive team coming in, new management team
We are not going to be irresponsible in terms of cost. Squad last year did not perform to the level of Champ