Labour MSP Margaret McDougall says the rural affairs secretary failed to act until, it seems, this debate loomed.

Ms McDougall says she will speak about dairy farmers and the difficulties they are facing as this is her last chance before she stands down.

She calls for whoever is in government after the election to take direct action head on. 

One example Ms McDougall cites would be the creation of a regulatory body for the dairy industry.

SNP MSP Mike Russell says it is a privilege to follow his old friend Mary Scanlon's final speech.

Mr Russell praises the efforts of the Scottish government on behalf of rural Scotland.

The Argyll and Bute MSP says rural Scotland is not on hold, as Sarah Boyack said, and language like that ill serves his constituents.

The problems that exist are being solved by Richard Lochhead he says and he adds that the cabinet secretary has made significant achievements in rural Scotland.

Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith pays tribute to Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon who is giving her farewell address. 

Ms Scanlon rises to applause from the chamber.

The Tory MSP says Angus Macdonald's speech was "shameful" particularly for the son of a crofter. 

Image source, bbc

Ms Scanlon says the Audit Committee will be updated on the IT system next Monday.

She places all the blame with Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and says she would have more respect for the Scottish government if they admitted they are at fault 

The emotional MSP gives her farewell address and thanks to family and colleagues for their support and friendship. 

Last month farmers hit by delays to EU payments are to be offered loans from a £20m fund set up by the Scottish government. 

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead announced the fund as he addressed the NFU Scotland annual general meeting in St Andrews. 

Image source, Getty Images

NFU Scotland said it was "imperative" the new fund was delivered quickly. 

The union had accused the Scottish government of creating a "hole" in the rural economy because of delays in allocating the EU money to farmers. 

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

SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says the government has taken "taken real action" citing earlier measures announced by Mr Lochhead and  yesterday's announcement on the CAP relief package.

Mr Macdonald says the Tory motion is nothing short of political opportunism and posturing.

Image source, bbc

He says Conservative's are guilty of hypocrisy as the UK government's farming minister wants to see the end of farming support payments by dragging the UK out of the EU.

Mr Macdonald criticises the NFUS for its reaction to the government's handling of the CAP.

Labour MSP Elaine Murray says the failure of the government to make the payments on time has had widespread affects. 

Dr Murray says one of her constituents, a sheep farmer, labelled the government system "not fit for purpose". 

She is not "computer brilliant but seems to be more computer brilliant than the Scottish government", says Dr Murray.

The Labour MSP says the Scottish government should apologise. 

Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, external convener Rob Gibson cites quotes that back the Scottish government's actions on CAP.

Mr Gibson says the issues of weather and prices are being conflated with CAP reform.

He says farmers and crofters have been "held to ransom by UK governments" failing to put in place a proper competition commission to tackle supermarket prices.

The SNP MSP says you can't go back to paper forms you have to use computerised forms according the EU.

Mr Scott says the government should have made the decision on emergency funds earlier, as France acted last year.

The Lib Dem MSP asks if the busted IT system will be able to make £100m more of payments by the end of April.

He says the IT system crashed yesterday and this has happened time and time again. 

The government should ditch it and ditch it now, he says.

Scottish Lib Dem rural affairs minister Tavish Scott uses his amendment to highlight the impact on the agricultural supply chain of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) delays, with merchants, vets and machinery supplies also among those being financially affected. 

Image source, AFP

Mr Scott says livestock prices have fallen as a result of the delays causing considerable pressures on primary livestock producing areas, notably in the crofting counties. 

He highlights delays to other agricultural grant schemes, such as the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme and the Scottish Rural Development Programme, and recognises the hard work and dedication of local Rural Payments and Inspections Division officers across Scotland, who have endeavoured to make their part of the BPS system function. 

Lib Dem rural affairs spokesperson Tavish Scott welcomes the emergency cash but asks why the government had not acted earlier.

Mr Scott says as late as 10 December the cabinet secretary was claiming all farmers and crofters would get a payment by the end of January, which did not happen.

Why should any farmer or crofter believe a failed IT system will get payment to them, he asks.

Ms Boyack says: "Our rural communities have been put on hold and there is worry and there is anger."

She says she welcomes the Audit Scotland report, but adds it won't be published until after the election.

The Labour MSP says that is why she is calling for a statement on what comes next for farmers and crofters.

"The failure on this project is truly scandalous."

Ms Boyack says Labour have been calling for automatic payments to be made.

She raises the issue of interest payments farmers have had to make.

Image source, SPL

The Labour MSP points to the crisis in the dairy industry and says the CAP delays have added to that.

It is the hallmark of the Scottish government to sit on a problem for months and to act at the last moment she says.

Scotish Labour's environmental justice spokesperson Sarah Boyack uses her amendment to call for compensation for farmers for interest incurred on loans that have resulted from the Scottish government's failure to make payments as planned. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Ms Boyack expresses concern about the 2016-17 payments and calls on the Scottish government to issue a statement before the dissolution of the Parliament as to what changes will need to be made to ensure that next year's payments process will be ready in time. 

She also highlights the continuing crisis in the dairy industry, and calls on the Scottish government to take further action to ensure the survival of the industry across the country. 

Scottish Labour's environmental justice spokesperson Sarah Boyack welcomes the announcement from the first minister yesterday.

Ms Boyack says the minister could not give a straight answer to when the payments will be definitively paid.

Mr Lochhead says: "The absolute priority is getting the payments out the door."

He highlights government support schemes for farmers and crofters.

The cabinet secretary highlights the emergency cash announced for farmers and crofters yesterday. 

Mr Fergusson asks if the cabinet secretary believes that with better weather and better prices that the IT system would have worked better.

Image source, PA

This is met with laughter in some parts of the chamber, to which Mr Lochhead says these are no laughing matters, echoed by Mr Swinney from a sedentary position. 

The minister says: "Where we are at the moment is not good enough and for that I did apologise."

"Ministers absolutely believe we have to learn lessons."

The Scottish government's amendment acknowledges that, at the same time as the transition to the new CAP, farmers are facing additional difficulties due to market trends and unfavourable weather. 

It welcomes the announcements of steps by the Scottish government to accelerate basic payments to farmers using Scottish government funds and the national less favoured area support scheme expected to deliver payments to the vast majority of eligible farmers and crofters by the end of March 2016. 

It commits to learning lessons from the implementation of the new CAP, and supports the continuation of CAP payments as one of the benefits of Scotland's continuing membership of the EU. 

Mr Lochhead says the new system had to be implemented for the first time with many one off tasks.

"We were determined to get the payments out as early as possible."

He says: "We all knew the risks."

The cabinet secretary says everyone agreed the risks were worth taking.

The rural affairs secretary says the government took the right decision on policy relating to CAP.

Mr Lochhead again stresses the complexity and the tight timescale.