MSPs pay tribute to the late Alex Johnstone

Summary

Economy Secretary Keith Brown gives evidence to the Education and Skills Committee on plans for Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies
Communities, social security and equalities ministers are in the hot seats for portfolio questions
The Scottish government will lead a debate on sea fisheries and the end of year negotiations
SNP MSP George Adam leads this evening's members' debate on Paisley for City of Culture 2021

Live Reporting

Colin Bell and Craig Hutchison

Postpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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SNP MSP expresses concerns about Westminster's approach to fishing industrypublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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SNP MSP Emma Harper
SNP MSP Emma Harper says the economic impact of the fishing industry in terms of UK GDP is 0.2%, which is £770m.
Ms Harper says it will not be an easy task to prevent Westminster negotiating away the Scottish fishing industry.
She says the UK government in the past said the fishing industry is expendable.
Postpublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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First minister expresses her sorrow at the news of Alex Johnstone's deathpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Ross Thomson heartbroken over death of his colleaguepublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Deputy first minister expresses sorrow at the death of Mr Johnstonepublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone dies aged 55published at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Alex Johnstone was a list MSP for North East Scotland from the first session of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone has died aged 55.
Tributes have been paid to the North East MSP, who had served at the Scottish Parliament since 1999.
The Kincardineshire-born former dairy farmer passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Mr Johnstone was "a big man with a big heart" who "embodied politics at its best".
He was the longest-serving Scottish Conservative MSP at Holyrood, and the only one to have served continuously from the beginning of the parliament.
Hailing from Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, Mr Johnstone worked as a farmer before being elected to Holyrood in 1999.
Tory MSP says his thoughts are with Linda and Alex Johnstone's familypublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Support from across the political dividepublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Alex Johnstone's death is a huge loss to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Toriespublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone has diedpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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'In the current landscape we are shackled' says Tory MSPpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
Scottish Conservative MSP Ross Thomson says the EU buckled under the pressure of Norway concerning North Sea fishing.
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Scottish Conservative MSP Ross Thomson
Mr Thomson says it is no wonder that fishing communities voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU.
"In the current landscape we are shackled," he says.
He says other countries have built boats with EU funding to fish in Scottish waters.
Mr Thomson says leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for the fishing industry and the industry is talking with "one voice" in asking the government to seize that opportunity.
Green MSP says the fishing industry was never expendable and it should never be expendablepublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
Green MSP John Finnie says the fishing industry was never expendable and it should never be expendable.
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Green MSP John Finnie
Mr Finnie says devising any new management regime for the fishing industry will be very complicated.
He says independent research must be used to gauge fish stock levels.
Fish know no borders - Labour MSPpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Scottish Labour MSP Claudia Beamish
Scottish Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says balances and compromises sometimes have to be found.
Ms Beamish says strong partnerships and a willingness to work together is required, particularly considering Brexit.
She says fish know no borders and we must maintain collaborative relationships.
The Labour MSP says this December should be about implementing regulations.
SNP MSP expresses concerns the UK government will again consider the fishing industry expendablepublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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SNP MSP Maree Todd
SNP MSP Maree Todd says many fishermen voted for Brexit and she accepts it presents some opportunities.
Ms Todd says she fears that once again the UK government will consider the industry expendable and may barter it away.
The Paisley Buddies are coming.............published at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
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Lib Dem MSP calls for a Scottish Fisheries Policypublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says there is no doubt the great majority of fishermen voted for Brexit and no wonder giving the Common Fisheries Policy.
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Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott
Mr Scott says there is no way he could persuade the fishing industry that the EU worked in their interests.
He calls for a Scottish Fisheries Policy regardless of the outcome of Brexit.
The Lib Dem MSP says the Faroe Islands export fish to Russia despite the international sanctions that Scottish processing companies comply with, and Scottish fishermen are sick of it.
Scottish Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott speaks to his amendmentpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
Here is the Scottish Lib Dem amendment.
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It is not just crews and boats that need a fishing industry but the onshore workers too - Labour MSPpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2016
Ms Grant says these debates are annual but they are now as important as ever because we need the best deal possible for Scotland.
The Labour MSP says it is not just crews and boats that need a fishing industry but the onshore workers too.