SNP MSP Dennis Robertson says his constituency has been badly hit between the Dee and the Don.

The Aberdeenshire West MSP asks about the mechanism for the public to get financial support.

The minister says it is important local authorities make the public aware of how to access emergency help.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford says the grants are now urgent and asks what discussions have taken place with local authorities to ensure this is achieved.

Mr Swinney says that discussions are underway and there is no reason why local authorities cannot make the money available straight away.   

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott calls for a review of the Bellwin plan and raises the issue of the EU solidarity fund. 

Mr Swinney says he will certainly look at the Bellwin scheme but he will be very surprised if there is not a successful application under the scheme. 

During his statment the deputy first minister said the infrastructure secretary is writing to the UK government asking them to make an application  to the EU Solidarity Fund.  

The Solidarity Fund was established after the severe flooding in Central Europe in 2002.  

Payments can be made to help fund emergency operations to deal with non-insurable damage such as salvage operations, repair of infrastructure, and cleaning. 

During his statment the minister said the UK received €162m after the 2007 floods, but so far has declined to make an application in relation to recent flooding. 

Labour MSP Elaine Murray says instead of asking cash strapped councils to make payments now, the government should pay councils.

Mr Swinney says he is at a loss and local authority finance works such that every week cash is paid to councils. 

He says local authorities are sitting on £1.8bn of cash reserves.

The minister angrily calls for councils to pay up the money to people hit by the floods and stop making excuses. 

Mr Swinney says there is no issue about local authorities having to wait until the end of March to spend the money announced.

The deputy first minister says local authorities can pay out the money now. 

He says he is sympathetic to Mr Fergusson's call for prophylactic measures to keep water in the hills.

Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson entirely endorses the minister's comments on professional and voluntary services as well as the communities hit by flooding.

Mr Fergusson calls for fast-tracking of funding to help communities.

He calls on the government to undertake prophylactic measures to slow down water coming from the hills.

The deputy first minister says he is at a loss to understand what Ms Boyack wants the government to do.

Mr Swinney says the government has launched flood risk strategies earlier this week.

The SNP MSP says no-one in Ballater on Hogmanay thought flood protection would have helped after such extraordinary flooding.

He says the government has made £42m to support flood prevention schemes across Scotland.

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks that the equipment required is made available to all emergency services to help those affected.

Ms Boyack says there should be a review into the flooding and how it has been handled.

The Labour MSP wants a breakdown of how the investment Mr Swinney is referring to will be spent. 

In conclusion the minister repeats the government’s appreciation for those involved in the frontline response to protecting communities across Scotland from recent severe weather events.

Mr Swinney says the government has launched the first ever flood risk management plan and 14 local strategies.

These set out investment plans of over £235m in 42 flood protection schemes, protecting over 10,000 properties.  

This national plan allows us to target investment and co-ordinate actions that will reduce flood risk.  

The key elements of the £12m package are :

• Providing funding to local authorities to allow them to make payments of £1500 for households, businesses, charities and community groups affected by flooding.  
• a flat rate grant payment of £3,000 to businesses in any part of Scotland where there is evidence that their ability to trade has been severely impacted by flooding at the beginning of January. 
•  The Scottish Government will make available £5 million to assist in reinstating infrastructure that has been lost due to the recent flooding. 

• A specific allocation will be made to Aberdeenshire Council to support the reinstatement of the A93 between Ballater and Braemar.  The exact sum will be dependent on discussions with the Local Authority.  Further bids from Local Authorities are invited.
• The Scottish Government will open an Agricultural Floodbank Restoration Grant Scheme which will be available to the farming community to seek financial support to restore damaged floodbanks. 

The minister says on 16 December he allocated £4m Barnett Consequentials to support those affected by Storm Desmond.

 Mr Swinney says on Saturday the First Minister announced a further round of support totalling £12m.   

The minister says the government  was quick to activate the Bellwin Scheme.  

It was triggered on 7 December 2015 as a result of Storm Desmond and on 30 December 2015 as a result of Storm Frank and remains active in the aftermath of the latest severe flooding.

He says the Scottish Flood Forum, financially supported by the Scottish government, has been swift to offer local support and advice. 

The minister praises the efforts of local authority staff and emergency and third sector organisations and communities themselves.  

Mr Swinney say none of us will fail to be impressed by those like the fire-fighters who "put to one side their own concerns as to flood risk to their own households and supported their community". 

Mr Swinney says that since December Scotland has faced a series of storms one following quickly on the heels of another.  

The deputy first minister says these have brought tremendous disruption, particularly through flooding events affecting many communities across much of Scotland.

"The scale of the events was exceptional but so, I believe, was the response to protect our communities."

The Scottish government has formally launched what it has described as the country's first national flood risk management plan.

The plan comprises 14 separate local strategies that were first published by Sepa in December, external.

The strategies identify a total of 42 flood protection schemes that have been proposed for action over the next five years at a total cost of £235m.

Image source, Getty Images

It follows a £12m investment - £9m of which will come from Barnett consequentials - announced by the first minister at the weekend which will see grants of £1,500 offered to people affected by flooding. 

The money will be paid through local authorities who will need to meet the costs of the grants from their own funds before claiming it back from the Scottish government in March.  

Deputy First Minister John Swinney will give a statement on the flooding that has devastated Scotland.

Business Minister Fergus Ewing says he is deeply concerned about Hawick Knitwear going into administration.

The minister says he will be visiting the firm tomorrow and says all help that can be offered is being considered.

He says all affected employees have received details about PACE support.

Mr Lamont says the loss of at least 120 jobs in a town the size of Hawick.

He calls for a task force and the minister says he will consider that with an open mind.

Historic Borders firm Hawick Knitwear has entered administration with the loss of more than 100 jobs. 

KPMG confirmed they had been appointed as administrators at the request of the company's director.

It said that 123 staff had been made redundant with immediate effect, with a further 56 workers retained. 

Administrators urged anyone who was interested in the company's business or assets to contact them "as soon as possible".  

Conservative MSP John Lamont asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to support those affected by Hawick Knitwear entering administration.