The minister calls for powers over work place relations to be fully devolved in SCotland.

She says the government will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to "block this exceptionally damaging piece of legislation in Scotland".

"This legislation is not needed or wanted in Scotland." 

The fair work secretary says trade unions are a source of good in modern society.

Ms Cunningham says they help head of industrial disputes.

She says: "The bill is nothing more than an ideological attack on trade unions with no evidence to underpin it."

The minister says she has continued to try and persuade the UK government to exclude Scotland entirely from the bill. 

Ms Cunningham says she is dissapointed with the presiding officer's ruling against her LCM.

She says she will support the Labour amendment. 

SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham uses her motion to support the report of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee that reaffirms the Parliament's opposition to the UK Government's Trade Union Bill. 

Ms Cunningham says the Bill, if enacted, has the potential to significantly damage Scotland's good industrial relations record. 

The SNP MSP welcomes the committee's recommendations that the Scottish Government continue to use all avenues to remove Scotland from the territorial extent of the Bill or, as a minimum, seek that the regulation-making powers relating to facility time and check off be conferred on the Scottish Ministers as they directly relate to public services in Scotland. 

Ms Cunningham says the Scottish Government is working with the STUC, COSLA and others who oppose the Bill.  

Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham leads a debate on the  UK Trade Union Bill. 

Ms Cunningham says concerns about this poorly thought out bill have been across the board. 

SNP MSP Christine Grahame says she is in the unusual position of being in disagreement with her government. 

Image source, bbc

The Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale says the bill is an enabling bill.

Ms Grahame says if she is reelected she is coming back with the bill. 

Environment and Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod reiterates her opposition to the bill in her closing speech.

It would create a public expectation that cannot be delivered and it ignores the funding implications, says Ms McLeod.  

Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson says his party will not back the general principles either.

Image source, bbc

Mr Fergusson says four out of the five local authorities do not want an extended park and the fifth would only back the proposal with appropriate funds guaranteed.  

Labour MSP David Stewart thanks Christine Grahame for her efforts on this bill, saying no-one can fault her passion.

Mr Stewart says, however, there are a number of issues the committee does not agree with the SNP MSP on.

He says there was no evidence of demand for expansion from locals. 

Earlier last year a rural landscape charity announced its support for extending the Pentland Hills Regional Park into the Borders and South Lanarkshire. 

The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) claimed the current boundary was an "anomaly". 

The view is contained in its response to recent consultation by MSP Christine Grahame on the park's expansion. 

APRS director John Mayhew said the move could provide "greater opportunities for a wider range of people".  

Environment and Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod says the Scottish government will not be backing the general principles of the bill. 

James Dornan, the convener of the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill Committee, external, said they had not heard about demand to expand the park from local landowners and farmers.

The SNP MSP says the committee was not convinced that designation of the regional park would bring beneifts.

Mr Dornan says an extended park would require extended services and expense.

The committee unanimously recommended that the parliament do not back the general principles of the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill. 

Ms Grahame says her bill is worth more than the 20 minutes given to it today.

The SNP MSP says the direct financial implications for local authorities would be di minimous.

"The committee has reported on a bill that does not exist."

She calls on members to focus on the line in the map and support the bill at Stage 1.

A Holyrood committee is recommending a bill to extend the boundaries of the Pentland Hills regional park is rejected. 

The MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Christine Grahame, wants to increase the size of the park. 

Image source, Richard Webb

The park currently covers just 45% of the Pentland hills range. 

The committee said there was little demand for the move and changing the boundaries would lead to an increased financial burden on councils. 

MSPs debate the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill for the first time.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing says there are still many opportunities in the North Sea.

Mr Ewing says the government continues to stand with the oil and gas industry in Scotland.

He urges the UK government to bring in a series of tax measures to help the industry. 

The minister says he has yet to have any indication as to what the UK government will do in the Spring budget.

He says the Scottish government cabinet agreed this morning to call on the UK government for fiscal help for the industry. 

Law firm Pinsent Masons has conducted a survey, external that shows many of those in the oilfield services industry were hoping to capitalise on the drop in oil prices by buying up distressed firms.

In total, 70% of the 200 senior executives it surveyed were actively considering an acquisition within the next year, it found. 

Oil prices have fallen by 70% in the past 15 moversupply, mainly due to US shale oil flooding the market. 

Plunging oil prices have been blamed for a sharp rise in the number of UK oil and gas companies going bust. 

Last year, 28 oil and gas service firms entered insolvency, up from 18 in 2014, according to research by accountancy firm Moore Stephens. 

The company said the increase was "an almost inevitable result" of the drop in the oil price and the consequent cancellation of projects worldwide. 

It estimates some $200bn (£140bn) worth of projects were cancelled last year. 

Conservative MSP Mark McDonald asks the Scottish government what its response is to the recent research by Pinsent Masons regarding the North Sea oil and gas industry. 

Labour MSP Claire Baker says if the UK government does not go ahead and take unaccompanied children what can the Scottish government do with charities to help.

Image source, Save the Children

The minister says he will discuss that with Save the Children, external later on today.  

Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson says there are already unaccompanied children coming to Scotland.

Ms Ferguson asks if mechanisms should be put in place now to foster these young children, as they must be in place when they arrive. 

The minister says this is a valid point and the Scottish government will work as closely with local authorities as possible to ensure foster carers are in place. 

The Europe and international development minister says the Scottish government will work closely with councils as they will be key partners in helping children.

Mr Yousaf says the political momentum is mounting to help refugee children.

The minister says there should be above and beyond the 20,000 refugees the UK government has agreed to take so far.