Holyrood as it happened: 24 February 2016

Summary

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Finance Secretary John Swinney gave evidence to the Finance Committee on the fiscal framework deal
During Portfolio questions, rural affairs and environment ministers were quizzed first, followed by justice ministers and law officers
The Budget Bill was debated for the final time
Labour MSP Jayne Baxter led a member’s debate entitled ‘Fairer Fife Commission Report, Fairness Matters’

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Colin Bell

Background: Holyrood set to pass Scottish budgetpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
The Scottish government's budget for the next year is expected to be passed by MSPs today after the forthcoming debate.
Opposition parties will use the debate to continue to press Finance Secretary John Swinney for a 1p rise in Scottish income tax rates to generate funding for education.
Image source, Getty Images
Meanwhile, trade union members will protest outside Holyrood over cuts to council budgets.
Mr Swinney has already ruled out raising income tax in his budget.
Child abuse survivorspublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Labour MSP Iain Gray asks what action the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will take to allow survivors of child abuse in care prior to 1964 to seek compensation.
Coming up: Budget Bill debate begins at 2.40pmpublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Finance Secretary John Swinney will shortly lead the final debate on his Budget Bill, we will of course bring you extensive coverage of the proceedings.
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
John Swinney will shortly lead the final debate on his Budget Bill.
Minister says the root causes of gender inequality must be tackledpublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Justice Secretary Michael Mathieson says the law is being strengthened in the area of violence against women and girls.
The root causes of gender inequality must be tackled to eradicate violence against women, says the minister.
Violence against womenpublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP Fiona McLeod asks how the Justice Directorate is tackling violence against women.
Nuisance noise in domestic propertiespublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP George Adam asks what the police are doing to tackle noise nuisance in domestic properties.
Support in the justice system for people with autismpublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP Christina McKelvie asks what support the justice system gives to people with autism.
Minister says £5.5m of CashBack for Communities funding has gone to North Eastpublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the government is "rightly proud" of CashBack for Communities.
Mr Matheson says £5.5m has gone to the North East with over 250,000 activities being funded.
Background: CashBack for Communitiespublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
CashBack for Communities, external is a government programme which takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them into free activities and programmes for young people across Scotland.
Since 2008, £75 million recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act has been committed to the CashBack for Communities Programme and other community initiatives.
The programme has funded 1.8 million activities and opportunities for young people.
CashBack for Communities programmepublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks what impact the CashBack for Communities programme is having in North East Scotland.
Background: New £75m women's prison scrapped, confirms Scottish ministerpublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Reevel Alderson
BBC Scotland Home Affairs correspondent
Plans for a new women's jail in Inverclyde were scrapped last year.
It followed criticism of the £75m plan to replace Scotland's women-only prison, Cornton Vale in Stirling.
Holyrood's Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said Scotland must take a more radical and ambitious approach to female offending.
Image source, Scottish Prison Service
Image caption,
The proposed women's jail in Inverclyde will not now be built
Opposition parties, which had lobbied for the scheme not to go ahead, welcomed the Scottish government's announcement.
Improvements to prison estatepublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks what plans the government has to improve the prison estate.
Environmental justicepublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Greens MSP Alison Johnstone asks the government what steps it is taking to ensure equal access to justice in environmental matters.
No consultation over Brexit says cabinet secretarypublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Mr Lochhead says the UK government has not consulted with the Scottish government on the impact on Scotland's fishing and farming communities of Brexit.
Background: The UK's EU referendum: All you need to knowpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
What is happening?
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union to be held on Thursday 23 June.
For more click here.
Impact of leaving the EU on fishing and farming communitiespublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks the Scottish government what discussions it has had with the UK government regarding the impact that leaving the EU could have on Scotland's fishing and farming communities.
Supportive of compulsary sale orderspublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Environment and Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod says the government is supportive of compulsary sale orders.
Vacant and derelict land can be brought back into use via this measure, says the minister.
Background: Scottish government to lodge 49 Land Reform Bill amendmentspublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
The Scottish government lodges 49 amendments to the Land Reform Bill amid calls for it to be made more "radical".
The legislation as it stands is concerned with management of land and ending tax relief for shooting estates.
Image caption,
The bill is concerned with the management of land and estates in Scotland
MSPs had said the bill needed "more work", while SNP conference delegates backed making it more "robust".
Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod said the changes would make the bill "the most radical and ambitious land reform legislation possible".
Land reform impact on West Scotland regionpublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Labour MSP Mary Fee asks what impact the Scottish government expects its proposals on land reform to have on land in the West Scotland region.
Minister says active travel budget has increasedpublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says the government is working closely with Fife Council to tackle air pollution in Fife.
Ms McLeod details the action plans in place to tackle the issue.
Ms Hilton asks what extra funding will be made available for active travel.
Image caption,
Labour MSP Cara Hilton
The minister says the active travel budget has increased at at time when the overall capital budget has declined by 27%.