Summary

  • The Education Committee take evidence from the Deputy First Minister John Swinney

  • Health Secretary Shona Robison gives e a ministerial statement responding to the Audit Scotland NHS 2016 report

  • Next up the Scottish Conservatives lead a debate calling for the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012

  • The Tories lead a debate on the NHS in Scotland 2016, saying the health service is in crisis

  • SNP MSP Sandra White leads this evening's member's debate on the Welfare Conditionality Study

  1. Repealing the act will leave no legislation against threatening communicationspublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Mr Matheson says repealing the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication Act.

    We will be the only part of the UK that has not criminalised threatening communications that stir up religious hatred.

    That is why the Tory motion should be opposed at decision time, says the minister.

  2. Minister struck by silence of opposition parties in suggesting alternativespublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says there is a level of consensus that everything needs to be done to tackle unacceptable behaviour in football grounds or outwith them.

    Mr Matheson says football clubs have an important part to play and he has no doubt they could do more.

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson

    He says legislation has a part to play in supporting the fight against unacceptable behaviour.

    The justice secretary says the government has repeatedly asked what opposition parties would do if the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act was repealed.

    He says that he has struck by their silence.

  3. Sectarianism is 'everywhere in society' not just at football groundspublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    In closing for Labour, Mary Fee says her party wants to deal with sectarianism through education and other measures.

    Ms Fee thanks the Scottish Conservatives for bringing the debate to the chamber and says they share the belief that this act does not solve the problem.

    Mary Fee

    The Labour MSP says sectarianism is everywhere in society, not just at football grounds and biased and bigoted assumptions can be made by something as simple as a surname.

    She says there are a range of inclusion issues in football around the world including racism. 

    Ms Fee says the government must go back to the drawing board and discuss the issues with all stakeholders to improve the measures that will deal with unacceptable behaviour. 

  4. Mr Dornan the football fan has a fan....published at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  5. Age before beauty? Banter between Dornan and Carlawpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  6. Background: Scottish Cup final 2016: Cases against Hibernian & Rangers droppedpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Police formed an armed guard after supporters invaded the pitchImage source, sNS
    Image caption,

    Police formed an armed guard after supporters invaded the pitch

    The disciplinary case against Hibernian over the pitch invasion that followed the Scottish Cup final has been dismissed as "irrelevant".

    And, as a result of the SFA judicial panel decision, the case against Rangers has also been withdrawn.

    A large-scale invasion by Hibs fans at full-time was followed by clashes between fans from both sides on 21 May.

    Meanwhile, Hibs say they have now paid money to the SFA following damage to the pitch at Hampden.

    Hibs won the match 3-2 to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902.

  7. Debate has 'nothing to do with improving legislation'published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    SNP MSP James Dornan says Labour MSP James Kelly previously said he wanted something done about sectarianism but that was before an election.

    Mr Dornan says the point of this debate isn't to repeal the act but it is a "political stunt" by "two parties who have been working together for far too long". 

    He says this debate has "nothing to do with improving legislation and everything to do with trying to defeat the government."

    James Dornan

    The SNP MSP says the clubs are not being held to account. He says the clubs will not act unless there is legislation in place. 

    He says neither club were found guilty of blame after the Hampden Cup Final in which Hibs and Rangers fans clashed.

  8. James Kelly tweets for the repeal of the football actpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  9. Labour MSP tweets the government has cut anti-sectarianism fundingpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  10. Football act should be given an 'early bath' says Lib Dem MSPpublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Mr McArthur says Nil by Mouth calls on sectarianism to be addressed holistically.

    The Orkney MSP says: "Sectarianism must be shown the red card" and adds the football act should be given an "early bath."

  11. The act was 'flawed from the start' says Lib Dem MSPpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says he condemns sectarian behaviour and he will happily work with others to end it.

    Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur

    Mr McArthur says he is not interested in "quick fixes" and "headline grabbing measures".

    He says the act was flawed from the start, introduced by a justice secretary and SNP government who had taken their eye off the ball.

    The Lib Dem MSP says emergency legislation is sometimes necessary but it does nothing here and it is no wonder the word "mince" was banded around.

  12. Mr Finnie conveys his message by twitter toopublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  13. Scottish Greens opposed to football actpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Scottish Green MSP John FinnieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Green MSP John Finnie

    Scottish Green MSP John Finnie says there is consensus that sectarianism needs to be tackled.Scottish Green MSP John Finnie

    Mr Finnie says: "There never was a shared political vision for this act."

    He says the football act is not the most effective way forward and says the Greens voted against the bill in2011.

  14. Labour MSP says the Scottish government has got the approach wrongpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Mr Kelly says £2m has been spent on a unit that films football supporters in and out of football grounds.

    James Kelly

    The Labour MSP says the amount of money would be better placed being invested in the public services.

    He says the Scottish government has got the approach wrong in making this act their flagship policy.

    Mr Kelly says there should not be a law that targets one section of sport fans. 

  15. 'Let's be clear the football act has been a failure,' says Labour MSPpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Labour MSP James KellyImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP James Kelly

    Labour MSP James Kelly says "Lets be clear the football act has been a failure."

    Mr Kelly says it has been ineffective in tackling sectarianism. 

    He says the opposition parties are united against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and it is time the SNP listened to them.

  16. Totally non biased commentary from our colleague Philip Sim and no clichespublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

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  17. There are already laws that make the football act unnecessary says Labour MSPpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Labour MSP praises the Tartan ArmyImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP praises the Tartan Army

    Labour MSP Claire Baker says there are now young fans growing up in an atmoshphere of distrust of the police.

    Ms Baker says the Tartan Army is renowned the world over, but there are a minority of fans who let the side down.

    She says there are already laws that make the football act unnecessary.

    The Labour MSP says the act is at best confusing and badly drafted and she calls on the Scottish government to repeal the act.

  18. Police given discretion to decide what is deemed offensivepublished at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker

    Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker says the legislation is not dealing with the problems. 

    Ms Baker says a strategy is needed that works and this act does not.

    The Labour MSP says officers can use discretion in deciding what is offensive.

  19. Background: 'Abhorrent' bottle attack on young Rangers fan before Celtic gamepublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Kraig Mackay

    Police have described a bottle attack on an 11-year-old Rangers fan before Sunday's League Cup semi-final game with Celtic as "abhorrent".

    Kraig Mackay suffered a large cut to his head after being hit by the bottle while walking in Aitkenhead Road, Glasgow on 23 October.

    Pictures on social media showed Kraig with a large gash and a bandage on his head.

    Police have appealed for help to find the person responsible.

  20. Minister lists support for the football act including from the Crown Officepublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016

    Crown OfficeImage source, bbc

    Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing says the independent academic evaluation of the Football Act said it brought a new clarity to the law.

    The minister says the Crown Office said in its recent consultation response that the act was dealing with offending behaviour which it may not have been able to secure a conviction for using existing legislation.