Summary

  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Jim Clark Rally and winter blood stocks are all raised during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during First Minister's Questions

  • Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle leads this afternoon's members' debate on Doon Valley Boxing Club

  • The Scottish government lead a debate on Scotland's disability delivery plan

  • The Finance and Constitution Committee lead a debate on the written agreement between the Scottish Parliament and Scottish government

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Colin Bell

  1. Finance secretary says he will set out tax policies in the budget on 15 December

    Patrick Harvie and Derek Mackaybbc

    Patrick Harvie and Derek Mackay

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says policies will be laid out in the budget on the 15 December.

    Mr Harvie says the cumulative affect of personal allowance changes will mean the wealthy will receive a tax break and asks what the cabinet secretary will spend his extra £15 per month on.

    Mr Mackay says he will lay out the figures in his budget and the government will set out a proposition on tax that is fair and reasonable

  2. Income tax policies.....

    In April this year a Scottish Rate of Income Tax was introduced. It meant that...

    • of the 20p now being paid from £1 of basic rate income, 10p of that is going to be levied by the Scottish Parliament
    • and that 10p amount could be varied up or down.

    In February this year, Scotland's then Finance Secretary, John Swinney, choose not to vary the figure.   

    Saltire purse moneyGetty Images

    The SNP-led Holyrood administration said it would not adopt the UK government's plan to take anyone earning less than £45,000 out of the 40p tax rate. 

    However, it does not intend to increase the 45p rate currently levied on those earning £150,000 or more a year in Scotland.  

    The Scottish Greens say there should be new rates and bands to give a tax cut to those on lower than average incomes and workers on higher wages should pay more tax.

  3. Scottish government tax policies question

    Scottish Green Party co-convener Partick Harvie asks what impact the government expects its tax policies to have on inequality of wealth and income. 

  4. More tributes for Alex Johnstone, who died yesterday

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  5. Agreement signed in Prestwick spaceport bid

    Bristol Space PlanesBristol Space Planes

    Glasgow Prestwick Airport has signed an agreement with Houston Spaceport as it continues its bid to become the UK's first launch site.

    The South Ayrshire airport is developing plans for a spaceport that could see the first satellites and rockets launched from the UK.

    The length of the runways and coastal take-off routes are said to be in Prestwick's favour.

    A feasibility study indicated it could be operational with £1m of investment.

  6. Licence process for Space Port will begin in 2018

    Economy Secretary Keith Brownbbc

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the government supports having a Space Port in Scotland.

    Mr Brown says the licence process will begin in 2018 and the government will support sites with their business models. 

  7. Background: UK ministers issue spaceport shortlist

    Last year UK government has issued a shortlist of aerodromes that could host a UK spaceport.

    The list reduces the number of runways first suggested as candidates when last year's consultation got under way.

    Virgin GalacticImage copyrightVIRGIN GALACTIC Image caption Various rocket planes and air-launched satellite systems are currently in developmentVirgin Galactic

    Virgin GalacticImage copyrightVIRGIN GALACTIC Image caption Various rocket planes and air-launched satellite systems are currently in development

    Still in are Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick, and Stornoway in Scotland; Newquay in England and Llanbedr in Wales. 

    Ministers are keen to see the spaceport established by 2018.

  8. Spaceports question

    Labour MSP David Stewart asks what action the government is taking to assist sites in Scotland that are preparing to apply for licences to operate as spaceports.  

  9. Minister thanks all who have given blood and says there is never a better time to do so

    Health Secretary Shona Robisonbbc

    Health Secretary Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison says each year there are robust plans to maintain blood stocks.

    Ms Robison says there are drives to encourage more to give blood on TV and digital.

    She thanks those who have and continue to donate.

    Mr McMillan says certain stocks are low and asks if promotional output will be increased.

    Ms Robison says there is a six day supply of all blood groups apart from two and there is not a major concern at the moment but the government will continue to support any publicity.

  10. Blood stocks for the winter period question

    SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to ensure that the NHS has sufficient stocks of blood for the winter period.  

  11. Organisers intend to hold the event in 2017 and have provided a report on safety

    John Lamont and Shona Robisonbbc

    John Lamont and Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison says a high degree of safety is imperative for spectators and road uses.

    Ms Robison says she is aware event organisers intend to hold the event in 2017 and have provided a report on safety.

    The minister says that report is under consideration by the government. 

  12. Jim Clark Rally 'in jeopardy over Crown Office delay'

    A car crashed and hit spectators at a stage of the rally near ColdstreamReuters

    A car crashed and hit spectators at a stage of the rally near Coldstream

    The future of the Jim Clark Rally is in jeopardy because of delays over a Crown Office report into a crash at the event which killed three people, it has been claimed.

    Iain Provan, 64, Elizabeth Allan, 63, and Len Stern, 71, died at a stage near Coldstream in 2014.

    The event has not been held on closed public roads since then and was cancelled this year due to low entries.

    The Crown Office has said it "will not compromise thoroughness for speed".

    Rally organisers have said they are "descending into despair of ever running this world-famous event again".

  13. Jim Clark Rally question

    Tory MSP John Lamont asks the Scottish government what its response is to concerns regarding the future of the Jim Clark Rally.  

  14. Minister says the SNP is " a broad church" with various views

    Tory MSPDonald Cameron says the campaign to save the board has been supported by Professor Jim Hunter and asks if he agrees with this SNP party member.

    Mr Brown says the SNP is " a broad church" with various views. 

    He says the staff and decision making process will remain the same. 

  15. Decision making will remain with HIE but governance will change - minister

    Rhoda Grant and Keith Brownbbc

    Rhoda Grant and Keith Brown

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown says HIE will continue to be locally based.

    Ms Grant asks at what level of financial assistance will HIE have to divert to the over-arching board for a decision. 

    Mr Brown says decision making will remain with HIE it is the governance that will be taken over by the new strategic board. 

  16. Board changes 'will not diminish' Highlands and Islands Enterprise

    Highlands and Islands Enterprise supports businesses across north and west ScotlandTHINKSTOCK

    Highlands and Islands Enterprise supports businesses across north and west Scotland

    The chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise has insisted the body will continue to exist in its present form despite changes to how it is overseen.

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney told MSPs that a new Scotland-wide group was to oversee and eventually "replace" individual agency boards.

    Opposition MSPs said this could be the "death knell for HIE as we know it".

    But chairman Prof Lorne Crerar said HIE would not be "in any way diminished" by the coming changes.

  17. HIE question

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asks the Scottish government whether decisions regarding Highlands and Islands Enterprise economic development and social support spending will be made locally by people who live and work in the area.  

  18. General questions begins

    General questionsbbc/Scottish Parliament

  19. Coming up..

    General questionsbbc

    General questions begins at 11.40am

    General questions gets underway at 11.40am and will be followed, as ever, by first minister's questions.

    We'll bring you extensive coverage of the political wranglings, including social media reaction and analysis, from noon.

    First minister's questions begins at 12pmScottish parliament

    First minister's questions begins at 12pm

  20. The Equality and Human Rights Committee makes history.....

    Equality and Human Rights CommitteeSPTV

    Equality and Human Rights Committee

    The Equalities and Human Rights Committee is marking International Human Rights Day 2016 by hearing from teachers and students from Thornlie Primary School in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire and Westfield Primary School, West Lothian, to mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2016.

    Watch live at Scottish Parliament TV.   

    Equality and Human Rights CommitteeSPTV

    Equality and Human Rights Committee

    Equality and Human Rights Committeebbc

    Equality and Human Rights Committee