Summary

  • The UK's Works and Pension Secretary, Damien Green, is quizzed by MSPs on the Social Security Committee

  • The local devolution agenda, disability benefits and missing persons are all raised during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Scottish Labour MSP Alex Rowley leads this afternoon's member's debate entitled: The Cost of Saying Goodbye, Burial and Cremation Charges in Scotland

  • The Scottish government leads a debate on Scotland's potential in a digital world

  • MSPs debate council tax increase in upper bands

  1. Highlight of the day: MSPs vote to increase the top four bands of council tax despite, but not without drama....published at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    MSPs to vote to raise top four council tax bands

    MSPs have voted to increase the top four bands of council tax despite the final order criticising the government.

    The changes will see council tax bands E-H rise from April 2017.

    SNP members were forced to vote for a motion noting that they had failed to make radical enough changes, after opposition parties amended the order.

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said the changes were "the first step in a journey of reform", but other parties were critical of the SNP's approach.

    The council tax freeze is to end in 2017, meaning all properties could potentially see their bill rise. But the order passed at Holyrood means the top four bands will rise in proportion to the others.

    The average band E household will pay £2 per week more than at present, and those in the highest band about £10 a week more

  2. Labour MSP continues the bus theme from Andy Wightman.............published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  3. Tory MSP Liz Smith's long awaited vote makes all the difference........published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  4. Support for Scotland's veterans and poppy day and thoughts from the Social Security committeepublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  5. After all that the SSI is passed but.............published at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  6. The Scottish Parliament is adjournedpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Ken Macintosh

    The Scottish Parliament is adjourned.

  7. The government motion on council tax SSI is approvedpublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
    Breaking

    The government motion on the approval of SSI council tax is approved with 92 for and 35 against..

    Government motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Green amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  8. Green MSP's amendment passedpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  9. The Scottish Greens amendment is agreed topublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
    Breaking

    The approval of SSI council tax amendment by the Scottish Greens is agreed to with 64 MSPs backing it and 63 against.

    Scottish GreensImage source, Scottish Parliament
  10. To the all important Council Tax SSI and Derek Mackay's amendment is rejectedpublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
    Breaking

    After a rerun of the vote: 

    The approval of SSI council tax amendment by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is rejected with 63 MSPs voting for it and 64 votes against.

    SNP amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  11. Postpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

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  12. The Scottish government motion as amended is agreed topublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    The Scottish government motion as amended is agreed to.

    Government motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Tory amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Labour amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  13. The Scottish Labour amendment is agreed topublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    The Scottish Labour amendment is agreed to

    Labour motionImage source, Scottish parliament
  14. The Scottish Conservative amendment from the digital world is agreed unanimouslypublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    The Scottish Conservative amendment from the digital world is agreed unanimously

    Conservative amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  15. Decision Timepublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    We now come to the all important decision time, will the Scottish government SSI on council tax be defeated?

  16. Minister says every penny raised in council tax will stay with those councilpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the Greens may be on a bus, but it is the Tories who are taking them for a ride.

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay

    Mr Mackay says every penny raised in council tax will stay with those councils.

    He says this vote is about changing the multipliers, a mandate secured in the election.

  17. Andy Wightman says at no time have Scottish Greens ever sought to block this legislationpublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Green MSP Andy Wightman

    Green MSP Andy Wightman says at no time have Scottish Greens ever sought to block this legislation.

  18. Lib Dems to back the Green amendment, but not the SSIpublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie calls on MSPs to oppose the SNP.

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie

    Mr Rennie says his party will vote against the government's amendment as it eviscerates Andy Wightman's amendment.

    He says he will back the Green amendment, but not the SSI.

    Mr Rennie says if the government wins today council tax will be embedded.

  19. Labour MSP calls on the minister to get rid of the unfair council taxpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley says his party will also support the SSI tonight, as it is modest, welcome movement.

    Mr Rowley says if the council tax was so unfair in 2007, and Nicola Sturgeon said tinkering with the bands was not good enough and the council tax had to go, how can Derek Mackay call it fair today.

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley

    The Labour MSP calls on the minister to get rid of the unfair council tax.

    Mr Rowley says Derek Mackay did not have the guts to be honest to the people of Scotland and will hide behind local government.

    He says we must get rid of the SNP council tax.

  20. Tory MSP says his party will back the Green Party amendmentpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016

    Conservative MSP Graham Simpson says these are uncharted waters.

    Conservative MSP Graham Simpson

    Mr Simpson says his party backs the attainment fund, but funding the measure on the back of councils is an attack on local democracy.

    He says if council tax increases it should be spent by councils.

    Mr Simpson says the Tories will back the Green amendment.