Summary

  • The Economy Committee takes evidence on the draft budget focussing on fuel poverty

  • MSPs raises questions on working conditions at Amazon's Fife warehouse and the BMA's GP survey

  • Education Secretary John Swinney gives a ministerial statement on its Improvement Plan for Education

  • The government leads a debate welcoming international migrants in Scotland

  • SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor leads a debate entitled Walk This Way at Dunbeth Park

  1. 'No outstanding grants' to be paid to Amazon says ministerpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Willie Rennie quizes Keith BrownImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Willie Rennie quizes Keith Brown about Amazon's Fife warehouse.

    Fair Work Secretary Keith Brown says it is important all employees in all work places are treated fairly. 

    Mr Rennie says reports of workers camping outside the factory have raised the issue and asked if the government can rule out paying any further grants to the companies.

    Mr Brown says all grants have been paid.

    The fair work secretary says the government do not have the powers to take the action they would like to make in terms of the living wage.

    "We have no outstanding grants", says Mr Brown. 

  2. Background: Amazon workers sleeping in tents near Dunfermline sitepublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Demand for Amazon services increases in the run up to ChristmasImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Demand for Amazon services increases in the run up to Christmas

    According to a report in the Courier,, external workers at Amazon have resorted to sleeping in tents close to the company's fulfilment centre in Fife. 

    The paper says at least three tents have been spotted in woodland beside the online retail giant's base just off the M90 in Dunfermline in recent days, sparking concerns about the depths some employees are apparently plumbing to hold down a job. 

    The report says The company came under fire last month from local activists who claimed that agency workers are working up to 60 hours per week for little more than the minimum wage and are harshly treated.

    Amazon dismissed those allegations and said it values its employees, maintaining a "culture of direct dialogue" with them. 

  3. Topical questions now: Amazon's Fife warehouse work conditions questionpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie asks what the Scottish government's response is to reports of "intolerable" working conditions at Amazon's Fife warehouse. 

  4. Coming up.......published at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

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  5. Time for reflectionpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Ms Jennifer Buchan

    Ms Jennifer Buchan from Humanist Society Scotland delivers today's time for reflection.

  6. Ahead of the education statement at 2.20pm.....published at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

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  7. Coming up in the chamber this afternoonpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    MSPs will raise questions on working conditions at Amazon's Fife warehouse and the BMA's GP survey during topical questions.

    GP StethoscopeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The BMA's GP survey will be raised during topical questions.

    Education Secretary John Swinney will then update MSPs on the government's  Improvement Plan for Education, following today's education statistics and last week's disappointing Pisa figures.

    School kidsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The education secretary will update MSPs on the Improvement Plan for Education.

    The government will then lead a debate welcoming international migrants in Scotland. 

    SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor will then lead a debate entitled Walk This Way at Dunbeth Park.  

  8. Scottish government cabinet sign off on draft budgetpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

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  9. That ends our coverage of the Economy Committeepublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Scottish Conservative MSP Gordon Lindhurst moves the committee into private session.

    We'll be back at 2pm.

  10. Changes to energy company obligations means less help for the most vulnerable homespublished at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks about energy company obligations and how the potential £60m investment could be used.

    Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland

    Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland says it is a reducing pot of money because changes to the energy company obligations means the targets have been stretched further.

    Mr Kerr says the object of this was to reduce consumer's bills but it resulted in less help for the most vulnerable homes. 

  11. Pre payment meter customers have been treated 'abysmally'published at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    SNP MSP Ash Denham says Our Power is in her constituency and they are filling a gap in the market. 

    Ms Denham asks what role there is for the Scottish government in rolling that out.

    Di Alexander, Chair, Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce

    Di Alexander, Chair, Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce, says Our Power are doing tremendous work.

    Mr Alexander says pre-payment meter customers have been treated "abysmally" and are just about to get a "well-deserved break". 

  12. Time for regulation in the private rented sector - Energy Action Scotlandpublished at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald asks how home owners and landlords can be encouraged to take up the grants on offer to improve the energy efficiency of homes. 

    Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland

    Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland, says carrots have been offered to that particular sector since 1996 but they have not been taken up.

    Mr Kerr says it is time for regulation. 

  13. Call for pilot schemes expanding good work already donepublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Di Alexander from the Scottish Rural Poverty TaskforceImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Di Alexander from the Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce

    Professor David Sigsworth, former Chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group calls for pilot schemes that progress the good work seen already.

    Prof. Sigsworth says this work must be tested further.

    Di Alexander from the Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce calls for the energy carer approach which could be an extended pilot.

    He say this would tackle the most disadvantaged households.

  14. Payback and private funding key recommendations from EHASpublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Scottish Greens MSP Andy Wightman asks what the priorities would be within the existing budget to help with fuel poverty issues.

    Elizabeth Leighton, Policy Advisor and Secretariat, Existing Homes Alliance Scotland

    Elizabeth Leighton, Policy Advisor and Secretariat, Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, says payback is one of the key recommendations.

    Ms Leighton says private funding should be sought to top up the budget. 

  15. NHS must ensure home is a warm safe place for people to be cared for when they leave hospitalpublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Nurses, doctors and patient in a wheelchairImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    'Can we get NHS to take ownership?'

    Norman Kerr from Energy Action Scotland says it is essential that when someone is sent home from hospital it is important that they go to a warm home, not a cold one.

    Mr Kerr asks: "Can we get NHS to take ownership?"

    He says the NHS must ensure home is a warm safe place for people to be cared for when they leave hospital.

  16. You cannot expect all pensioners to go online and find the most energy efficient dealspublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Elderly lady on a MacImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    You cannot expect all pensioners to go online and find the most energy efficient deals, says SRPT chair

    Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce chair Di Alexander says pensioners in rural areas are more likely to live in larger detached houses.

    Mr Alexander says experts are required to go to these homes and help assess the best ways to help.

    He says you cannot expect all pensioners to go online and find the most energy efficient deals.

  17. Cold weather payments could be looked at to help pensioner households - Energy Action Scotlandpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Scottish Labour MSP Richard Leonard says half of all pensioner households in Scotland live in fuel poverty.

    Mr Leonard asks what can be done to address that.

    Norman Kerr

    Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland, says adequate levels of housing must be provided to people and that it may be that pensioners are living in five-bedroom houses and the family have gone.

    He says the cold weather payments could be looked at. 

  18. Teacher numbers increase says Scottish governmentpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

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  19. EAS says affordable energy is a better measure as we cannot leave people sitting in the darkpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2016

    Getty ImagesImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Getty Images

    Norman Kerr from Energy Action Scotland says every household cannot be surveyed every year so there will have to be proxies.

    Mr Kerr says affordable energy use must be examined, as it encompasses affordable warmth and the rest of the bill, including lighting.

    He says affordable energy is a better measure as we cannot leave people sitting in the dark.