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.
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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’
Craig Hutchison and Colin Bell
Labour MSP Cara Hilton asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution in Fife.
The minister says the government's consultation showed overwhelming support for a ban of circus animals and he is considering the next step currently.
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.
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.
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart asks what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
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.
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks when the payments will be made.
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.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead says he discussed the CAP payments with NFU Scotland.
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.
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.
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.
Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson asks when the Scottish government last met NFU Scotland and what matters were discussed.
SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to deal with antibiotic resistance in the food chain.
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says the measures deal with specific circumstances within a national park to prevent environmental damage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says there will be no environmental impact.
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.
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.
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.
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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In the chamber portfolio questions will see rural affairs and environment ministers quizzed first, to be followed by justice ministers and law officers.
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’.
Committee convener Kenneth Gibson asks what role the Joint Exchequer Committee will have going forward.
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.
Labour MSP Lesley Brennan asks about the agreed model for the block grant adjustment, saying it is not explicitly per capita index deduction.
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.