Summary

  • Economy Secretary Keith Brown gives evidence on the draft Scottish budget 2017-18

  • MSPs pay tribute to the late Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone

  • In topical questions the issues of transvaginal mesh implants and Lands and Buildings Transaction Tax will be raised

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gives a statement on Scotland’s place in Europe

  • The government lead a debate on improving the care experience for looked after children

  • Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale leads this evening's member’s debate entitled 'tackling mesothelioma in Scotland'

  1. Ms Sturgeon says the EEA is better than not being in the EU or the EEApublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon points out to Mr Tomkins there was a referendum on membership in the EU earlier this year.

    She says she would prefer to be in the EU rather than the EEA, but the EEA is better than neither.

  2. Tory MSP asks why the first minister now wants Scotland to be in the EEApublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Scottish Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins says the first minister has previously argued that the Scottish government doesn't see the EEA as a viable option.

    Mr Tomkins asks why the first minister now wants Scotland to be in the EEA. 

  3. VAT should be devolved says first ministerpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    The first minister says there is absolutely no reason why VAT could not be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

    Ms Sturgeon says with the UK leaving the EU there is no argument left against that.

  4. VAT raised by SNP leave voterpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    SNP MSP Alex Neil, who confirmed that he voted to leave the EU, asks about value added tax.

    Mr Neil says it is the most important tax in the single market but not one the Scottish government has mentioned.

    He asks the first minister to give more information on its position on VAT. 

  5. Ms Sturgeon says the real danger is workers' rights getting into the hands of Westminsterpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    The first minister says Mr Findlay's Labour colleagues are looking at their phones as his question is not his party's line.

    Ms Sturgeon says there are many rules and regulations within the EU that she would argue should change.

    The first minister says the real danger is workers' rights getting into the hands of Westminster.

  6. First minister prepared to 'die in a ditch' to keep EU laws says Labour MSPpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay asks why the Scottish government would want to stick to some of the EU law on trade.

    Mr Findlay says there are laws the government has criticised in the past. 

    The Labour MSP says the first minister is now prepared to "die in a ditch to keep them."

  7. Ms Sturgeon says the reaction from stakeholders across Scotland has been very positivepublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon says there has been a warm appreciation that the Scottish government alone has come up with a plan.

    The first minister says we are six months on from the referendum, but we know no more about the UK government's plans than "Brexit means Brexit", which she says is an absolute disgrace.

  8. UK government have produced no plans on Brexit says SNP MSPpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    SNP MSP Emma Harper asks if the first minister agrees that it is disgraceful that the UK government have produced no plans on Brexit.

  9. Background: What was the referendum result?published at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    EU referendum result

    The referendum which resulted in a UK vote in favour of ending membership of the EU took place on 23 June.

  10. First minister accuses Tory MSP of not having read the proposalspublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    The first minister says: "All Ross Thomson has demonstrated in that long and winding question is that he has not read the proposals today."

    Ms Sturgeon says it was a Conservative government that treated the Scottish fishing industry as "expendable".

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  12. First minister asked how she intends to represent the Scots that voted to leavepublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Scottish Conservative MSP Ross Thomson says, for an independent country to gain access to the EU, there are processes to go through.

    Mr Thomson asks how Ms Sturgeon intends to represent the Scots that voted to leave the EU. 

  13. The first minister says even one part of the UK being in the single market would benefit the whole of the UKpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon says given the Tories have put Scotland into this position, their contempt for the debate is "disgraceful".

    The first minister says the economic impact of the options must be modeled continually.

    She says even one part of the UK being in the single market would benefit the whole of the UK.

  14. Question on evaluation of proposalspublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    SNP MSP Ivan McKee asks what evaluation has been done of the economic benefits to Scotland of proposals compared to those of a hard Brexit. 

  15. First minister says the Scottish government has always stood up for freedom of movementpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon says hers is a compromise position and is not her preferred option as she wants Scotland and the UK to remain in the EU.

    The first minister adds she has to deal with the reality and she has a duty to try to find a way "through this situation, which is not of her making", to get the most acceptable deal for the Scottish people.

  16. Some of the options do not reflect what the electorate voted for, says Scottish Green MSPpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ross Greer

    Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer says his party welcomes that the government is proposing options.

    But he asks if the options reflect the furthest extent the Scottish government would be prepared to go to. 

  17. Further response from FM on Labour's constitutional convention suggestionpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Quote Message

    A constitutional convention would be like fiddling while Rome burned."

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minster of Scotland

  18. First minister says the Customs Union across the UK will remainpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Scottish Labour leader Lewis Macdonald says the first minister is "all ears", but it is a pity that was not her response to Labour's suggestion of a people's constitutional convention.

    Mr Macdonald asks how Scotland can be in two single markets.

    Ms Sturgeon says the Customs Union across the UK will remain.

    The first minister says the border between Scotland and England would remain the same.

    She adds that the UK government is saying there is no requirement for a hard border between Norther Ireland and Ireland post-Brexit, so why should there be one between Scotland and England.

  19. First minister on 'charm offensive', says Tory MSPpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser says the first minister has been on a charm offensive across Europe.

    He asks how many other EU governments support her proposal.

    Ms Sturgeon says if Mr Fraser wants any lessons on charm she can provide it.

    She adds that if the proposals are to work "we will need support". 

  20. Scotland staying in the single market would secure the rights of EU citizens already living herepublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon says Scotland staying in the single market would secure the rights of EU citizens already living here.

    She says it would also secure freedom of movement which is crucial for Scotland.

    The first minister says freedom of movement within the EU is good for culture and the economy.