Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie believes the UK government's proposed changes to tax credits would leave working families worse off and calls on the Scottish government to restore tax credits to families using the new powers being devolved. 

Ms Baillie says she is willing to do something about austerity rather than sit and wring her hands and do nothing. 

 She says: "I am willing to unlock the powers of devolution." 

 The Labour MSP says the SNP are not stronger for working families. 

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says if the SNP do not back Labour's motion this would confirm the "politics of grievance is more important to them than helping working families in Scotland". 

The SNP is to oppose a Labour motion calling on Holyrood to use new tax and welfare powers to restore tax credits. 

It said the proposals were unworkable and accused Labour of making empty promises to vulnerable people.

Instead, SNP MPs have lodged amendments to the Scotland Bill calling for working tax and child tax credits to be devolved in full. 

But Labour said powers to restore tax credits were already coming to the Scottish Parliament. 

Unveiling her proposals at the Scottish Labour conference in Perth at the weekend, leader Kezia Dugdale said it would be funded by not progressing with SNP plans to cut Air Passenger Duty by 50% before abolishing it altogether.

A future Scottish Labour government would also not increase the threshold at which people start to pay income tax at 40%, she said. 

The Scottish government has said it will bring forward plans to support those on low incomes following the UK government spending review, and said "the first priority must be to stop cuts to tax credits completely" 

Scottish Labour leads a debate entitled 'Supporting Scotland's Children debate'.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale announced the move in her keynote speech to Scottish Labour conference in Perth last week, outlining that the party would pay for the move by cancelling the planned SNP tax cuts on air passenger duty and Tory cuts for higher rate tax payers. 

Conservative MSP Nanette Milne asks what assessment the finance secretary has made of the future funding formula for NHS boards. 

SNP MSP Chic Brodie asks what plans the finance secretary has to provide financial support for businesses in the social enterprise sector in the south of Scotland. 

Independent MSP John Wilson asks what meetings the Scottish government has had with the UK Government regarding the devolution of onshore coal and gas extraction licensing. 

SNP MSP Bob Doris asks the Scottish government when the finance secretray last met the chancellor and what issues were discussed. 

Finance Secretary John Swinney says many of these issues would be better protected if there was entrenchment of the Sewel Convention in the Scotland Bill. 

Mr Swinney says the issue will be assiduously monitored by the Scottish government. 

Plans to introduce "English votes for English laws" for MPs have been voted through in the House of Commons. 

The government won the backing of MPs by 312 to 270 votes. A series of amendments by Lib Dem and Labour MPs were also defeated. 

Image source, Getty Images

Commons leader Chris Grayling dismissed objections to the new law as "nonsense" during a bad-tempered debate. 

The SNP's Pete Wishart said the "stupid" plans would make Scottish MPs "second class citizens". 

SNP MSP Bill Kidd asks the Scottish government what analysis it has carried out of the possible impact on its finances of English votes for English laws.

Business Minister Fergus Ewing says PACE is dedicated to helping workers and employers facing redundancies or whose contracts have not been renewed. 

Thus, unemployed professional footballers are entitled to all the help that PACE can provide. 

Mr Ewing says both football clubs and authorities take very seriously their responsibilities, but he agrees to ask PACE to speak with the SPA and SFL. 

Labour MSP Mark Griffin asks what support the PACE team can provide to unemployed professional footballers who have been released by their club. 

SNP MSP George Adam asks whether for an update on the rollout of superfast broadband. 

SNP MSP Dave Thompson asks what additional powers over tax it considers should be devolved. 

Business Minister Fergus Ewing details the measures the Steel Taskforce has already taken. Mr Ewing says Transport Scotland are carrying out a review to see what more can be done. 

The minister says there are possibilities in the area of shipbuilding. He says he visited Dayell yesterday and a suggestion was made that steel for bridges and road could be produced. 

Labour MSP James Kelly asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to protect jobs at the Dalzell and Clydebridge steel plants.  

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to do "everything possible" to help find a buyer and keep production going at two threatened steel plants. 

Asked about a Prestwick Airport-style government rescue, she said.

Image source, Getty Images

Her comments came after she held talks with the workforce and management at Tata Steel's plants in Motherwell and Cambuslang. 

On 20 October, Tata confirmed plans to mothball both facilities putting 270 jobs at risk. 

Mr Swinney says the reduction by a council in business rates would be fully funded by that council. 

 The finance secretary says this is a power that local authorities welcomed.