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Social Security Minister Jeanne Freeman says the Scottish government's track record on the gender pay gap is better than that of the Uk's.

Ms Freeman says the government is absolutely committed to delivering the Fairer Scotland Action Plan.

On the Conservative amendment Ms Freeman says the Tories have chosen to ignore some of the measures in the action plan. 

She says the Scottish Tories said we'd be better together but "they can't say many in Scotland are finding that at the moment". 

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Ms Freeman says the government's income tax proposals protect low and middle income families.

The social security minister says asking higher tax earners to forgo a cut is very fair indeed.

She says the government happily accepts Labour's amendment.

The minister says the action plan is not the end of the matter and other ideas will be well received.

Social Security Minister Jeanne Freeman says the government is fully committed to tackling poverty and inequality.

Ms Freeman says: "Tackling poverty is the job for all of Scotland."

She says the Green idea of a citizen's income is an interesting idea and well worth consideration.

The social security minister says more devolved powers would be necessary to achieve this.

SNP MSP George Adam asks if Mr Kerr is living in another planet or another dimension and says he must take responsibility for poverty.

Mr Kerr hits back saying: "If anyone needs to take responsibility he is afraid it is this government," as he gestures towards the SNP front bench.  

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Tory MSP Liam Kerr says everyone believes fairness should be integral to what the government hopes to achieve.

Mr Kerr says no-one would disagree that the economy should work to eradicate child poverty.

He says it is time the government built a Scotland that worked for everyone.

Ms Constance asks about the UK government abolishing statutory income targets and child tax credits.

Mr Kerr says he does not recognise that at all. 

Labour MSP Mark Griffin calls for MND sufferers to receive their benefits without reassessment for the rest of their lives.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says his party looks forward to the details of how the Fairer Scotland Action Plan will be funded.

Mr Griffin says the government should use the newly devolved powers to ensure a legal duty of the uptake of benefits.

He says the number of people who receive full payments is maximised.

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Ms Johnstone says the Scottish government should top up child benefit by £5 to address child poverty.

The Green MSP calls for a young carers allowance and says she is glad the government is consulting on this. 

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Green MSP Alison Johnstone says: "There is much consensus on the need for more action to create a fairer Scotland."

Ms Johnstone says the Conservatives have talked the most about independence today.

She says she welcomes the Child Poverty Bill. 

Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simspon says the SNP have been in government for 10 years but refuse to accept that anything is their fault.

Mr SImpson says Scotland has had decades under governments, first Labour then SNP, who have done nothing to help the poor.

The Conservative MSP says standards in schools are declining and there has been a drop in numeracy skills.

He says Scotland's poorest students are missing out on university and the country is falling behing England and Wales on this. 

"Blaming others simply will not do," he says.

SNP MSP Tom Arthur says the scope of the action plan is impressive.

Mr Arthur says it is going to take all the MSPs in parliament to work together constructively.

He says the action plan demonstrates that the government is getting on with the job. 

The SNP MSP says UK government policies de-humanise people and certain measures say to people that "if you need help, you are a burden".

He says the Scottish government must take a "radically different approach." 

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Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says the appoitnment of the Scottish government's poverty advisor Naomi Eisenstadt was a 'game changer'.

Ms McNeill welcomes the government backing of the Labour amendment.

Ms Eisenstadt's poverty report urged "bold" moves on tax reform, the living wage, childcare and public service delivery.

'Shifting the Curve' report, external was released in January. 

Earlier in the chamber the Scottish government announced a move to pardon men who were convicted of same-sex offences before laws against homosexuality were scrapped.

The UK government has announced plans for posthumous pardons for men who were convicted under laws now abolished.

There was controversy after an SNP members' bill on the topic was "talked out" at Westminster, with Theresa May's government preferring its own plans.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said Scottish-specific plans would be made.

Changes to legislation at Westminster would not apply automatically in Scotland, with justice a devolved area.

Private homosexual acts between men aged over 21 were decriminalised in England and Wales in 1967, but the law in Scotland was not changed until 1980.