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’

  1. Air pollution in Fifepublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Labour MSP Cara Hilton asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution in Fife. 

  2. Legislation on wild animal circus ban being consideredpublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    The minister says the government's consultation showed overwhelming support for a ban of circus animals and he is considering the next step currently. 

  3. Background: Scottish government considering wild animal circus banpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    In 2014 the Scottish government said it would "look carefully" at changing the law to ban circuses from using wild animals, the environment secretary has said. 

    Richard Lochhead made the announcement at Holyrood after it emerged five big cats were spending the winter in cages in Aberdeenshire.

    Lion in cageImage source, Thinkstock
    Image caption,

    Concerns were raised about the big cats being kept in small cages

    In response to a government consultation a total of 2003 respondents (98%) indicated that they thought the use of wild animals for performance in travelling circuses should be banned in Scotland. 

    1969 respondents (96.4%) indicated that they thought the use of wild animals for exhibition (without performing) in travelling circuses should be banned in Scotland. 

  4. Ban on the use of wild animals in circusespublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    SNP MSP Kevin Stewart asks what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. 

  5. When will farmers and crofters receive their payments?published at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks the minister to write to crofters and farmers to let them know when they will receive payments.

    The minister says he accepts the need for as much clarity as possible but individual time-tables cannot be given.

  6. Government is 'working flat out' to get CAP payments outpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks when the payments will be made.

    Tractor ploughing a fieldImage source, Thinkstock

    Mr Lochhead says the government "is working flat out" to get out as many of the first installments out.

    He says farmers and crofters can access the £20m hardship fund he announced recently.

  7. Tory MSP says 'shambles of the CAP payments scheme continues'published at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead says he discussed the CAP payments with NFU Scotland.

    Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead

    Mr Fergusson says the "shambles of the CAP payments scheme continues".

    The cabinet secretary says 50% of all farmers and crofters in Scotland will have received their first payment by now.

  8. Background: Scottish farming faces 'cash crisis' over CAP payment delayspublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Delays in EU payments have left many Scottish farmers facing a cash flow crisis, according to the head of a farming union.

    NFU Scotland, external president Allan Bowie said only a third of Scotland's farmers had so far received their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) claims.

    The payments have been affected by major issues with the IT system used to administer them.

    TractorsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Many Scottish farmers rely on the CAB payments to supplement their main income

    The Scottish government said farmers would be paid as quickly as possible.

    And it said the complexity of the new CAP system had also hindered the process.

    Reforms to the CAP system saw the Single Farm Payment Scheme replaced by the new Basic Payment Scheme, external (BPS) last year.

  9. NFU Scotlandpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson asks when the Scottish government last met NFU Scotland and what matters were discussed. 

  10. Antibiotic resistance in the food chainpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to deal with antibiotic resistance in the food chain. 

  11. Minister says measures will prevent environmental damagepublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says the measures deal with specific circumstances within a national park to prevent environmental damage. 

  12. Background: First minister urged to 'shake-up' Loch Lomond national parkpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Outdoors broadcaster Cameron McNeish has called for a "complete shake-up" of how the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is managed. 

    In a column for the Walk Highlands website, Mr McNeish said there had been several "failures in governance" by the park authority. 

    He has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urging change.

    Loch Lomond from Conic Hill
    Image caption,

    Campaigners are worried that the by-laws will damage access rights

    The park's chief executive, Gordon Watson, said Mr McNeish's allegations were "totally unfounded". 

    The broadcaster's comments focus on plans approved by the authority in April that would ban camping without a permit around many of the lochs in the park. 

    Highland cow in water
    Image caption,

    The national park says the by-laws are necessary to protect the environment

    The proposals have been criticised by some outdoor recreation groups in Scotland, but the park maintains that the measures are necessary to protect the environment from anti-social behaviour. 

    They have also seen widespread support from residents of the park. 

    The authority wants to establish four "camping management" areas on the busiest loch shores with investment in new official camping facilities, including 300 new camping places.     

  13. Camping management by-laws for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Parkpublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Labour MSP Siobhan McMahon asks whether the government will provide an update on the proposed camping management by-laws for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 

  14. 'A difficult decision in a difficult budget'published at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says there will be no environmental impact.

    Environment Minister Aileen McLeod

    Mr Macintosh expresses surprise and asks if the minister is not being hypocritical by taking £10m from the sector.

    Ms McLeod says this was a difficult decision in a difficult budget.

  15. Portfolio questionspublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Labour MSP Ken Macintosh asks the Scottish government whether it has made an assessment of the environmental impact of cutting business rates relief for the renewables industry. 

  16. Welcome back to Holyrood Livepublished at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Welcome back to Holyrood Live's extensive coverage of the final Budget Bill debate.

    The finance secretary will get to his feet at 2.40pm this afternoon.

    John Swinney and money on a Saltire montage
    Image caption,

    The final Budget Bill debate begins at 2.40pm

    Before that we have portfolio questions which will see rural affairs and environment ministers quizzed first, to be followed by justice ministers and law officers.  

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  18. Coming up in the chamber this afternoon........ the budget!published at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    In the chamber portfolio questions will see rural affairs and environment ministers quizzed first, to be followed by justice ministers and law officers.

    Budget montageImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    MSPs voted to back the general principles of the Budget Bill earlier this month

    The rest of the afternoon will be given over to the final debate on the Budget Bill led by.......Mr Swinney. 

    It begins at 2.40pm.

    After decision time, tonight at 5pm, Labour MSP Jayne Baxter will lead a member’s debate entitled ‘Fairer Fife Commission Report, Fairness Matters’.

  19. That concludes the evidence session with the finance secretarypublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Committee convener Kenneth Gibson asks what role the Joint Exchequer Committee will have going forward.

    Committee convener Kenneth Gibson

    Mr Swinney says the JEC will continue to be involved in the creation of the fiscal framework.

    That concludes the evidence session with the deputy first minister and the Finance Committee moves into private session. 

    John Swinney
  20. Per capita index deduction equivalentpublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Labour MSP Lesley Brennan asks about the agreed model for the block grant adjustment, saying it is not explicitly per capita index deduction.

    Labour MSP Lesley Brennan

    Mr Swinney says the UK government's preferred comparibility model is being reconfigured to deliver the outcome that the per capita index deduction would have done.

    He says it is up to the individual to decide if that is elegant or inelegant.