That brings our coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 20 December 2016 to a close.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with full and extensive coverage of the Local Government Committee from 10am.

Have a good night. 

Nicola Sturgeon has argued it would be "democratically justifiable" for the whole of the UK to remain in the European single market after Brexit.

But the Scottish first minister also said it would be possible for Scotland to remain in the free trade bloc even if the rest of the UK left.

She was speaking as she unveiled proposals for Scotland's future relations with Europe after Brexit.

The prime minister has pledged to look "very seriously" at the proposals.

But the UK government has also warned that a special deal for Scotland is unrealistic.

Ms Campbell says commits to working with SNP MSP Emma Harper and the cross party lung health group.

Labour Anas Sarwar asks can the minister commit to including mesothelioma in the waiting time targets and funding for mesothelioma.

The minister does not commit to this but details the actions that are being taken by the Scottish government.

She concludes saying the Scottish government and parliament have a strong record in exposing negligence in relation to exposure to asbestos.

The minister closes saying more needs to be done to battle cancer, but much has been done.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says mesothelioma is under consideration in relation to NHS waiting times and the government will come back on this in due course.

Ms Campbell says the government will continue to engage on mesothelioma and consider the recommendations made. 

Image source, SPL

Ms Cambell says there is room to do far more to help those affected by this disease.

The public health minister says the government have published a cancer strategy and, although it does not specifically mention mesothelioma it does not mean it hasn't been considered. 

Earlier this year the Scottish government launched a new £100m strategy to tackle cancer.

The new initiative aims to improve prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare for cancer patients in Scotland.

An action plan covering the next five to ten years has been drawn up, including funding for new equipment.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell welcomes Julie Roberts and her family to the chamber and thanks them for campaigning on the issue. 

Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray praises Hibernian Football Club for their support of Julie Roberts's campaign.

Mr Gray says fathers and grandfathers who worked in the pits have been lost to mesothelioma. 

The Labour MSP says, in her blog, Julie Roberts wrote, external, of the people who have dies "they went to their work."

Image source, bbc

He says the people who have dies did nothing wrong, they simply went to their work. 

Mr Gray says insurance companies have tried "every trick in the book" to avoid paying out to the families who have lost loved ones. 

Image source, PA

Scotland's urban areas, particularly around Glasgow, have the highest lung disease mortality rates in Britain, a report has found.

People living in the city are almost twice as likely to die from lung disease as those in Stirling, according to the British Lung Foundation (BLF).

The charity said historic smoking rates were partly to blame for the serious health problems.

But it believes heavy industry has also led to high rates of lung conditions.

The BLF has called on the Scottish government and NHS Scotland to set up an "independent taskforce" to produce a strategy for tackling lung health in Scotland.

Its report, The Battle for Breath: the Impact of Lung Disease in the UK, external, is the result of a three-year study.

It has been hailed as "the most comprehensive overview of lung disease in a decade".

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Emma Harper says she received an e-mail from Julie Roberts asking her to back her campaign and the motion from Kezia Dugdale.

The former nurse welcomes Ms Roberts to the gallery.

Ms Harper says she wanted to speak in this debate as she has been asked to set up a cross party group on lung health. 

She says the lung health group has been approved and says she wants to take action to help Scots with mesothelioma.

Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs pays tribute to Kezia Dugdale's campaigning in the area.

Mr Briggs says Scotland and the UK has the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.

The Tory MSP says diagnosis and treatment can be challenging and more needs to be done to raise awareness.

Mr Briggs says he shares the disappointment that it is not part of the Scottish government's cancer strategy. 

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says 20 years ago Clydebank was confirmed as the asbestos capital of Europe.

Ms Baillie says Clydebank had the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the UK.

She says thousands of workers were exposed to the deadly dust in the shipyards on the river Clyde.

In an emotional contribution the Labour MSP says the frightening thing is people are being diagnosed younger than before.

The idea that it is all gone and all in the past is simply wrong.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says "one voice can help to change a country" and Julie Robert's courageous voice has changed the way mesothelioma. 

Mr Macpherson praises Scottish Hazards, external for their work in the area. 

The SNP MSP says Julie Roberts has asked for awareness to be raised in Scotland to create action. 

Image source, Mesothelioma UK

Through integrated working practices Mesothelioma UK now significantly compliments and supports UK health care providers to meet the needs of people living with Mesothelioma, particularly with regard to the provision of specialist nursing posts in the UK. 

This is Mesothelioma UK’s first Strategy Document. 

Click here and then click on the link to the strategy., external