Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says the Tories welcome the Scottish government's approach to international development.

Mr Stewart says Scotland have a responsibility to provide aid to those who are worse off.

The Tory MSP says their manifesto pledges to raise international development from £9m to £10m.

He says the targeting of funds to specific projects will help to achieve the best outcome for the countries and ensure value for money for Scottish taxpayers.

Scottish Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart uses his amendment to call on the Scottish government to further promote the needs of minority, marginalised and vulnerable groups in these countries where such groups are often subject to criminalisation and harassment.

Mr Stwart welcomes the Scottish government’s stated ways of working to achieve its vision and implement its priorities, namely to invest its International Development Fund strategically and in line with good development practice.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Mr Stewart encourages a close relationship with the UK government in international development.

He recognises the holistic approach necessary to achieve sustainable development through a shared duty to consider in everyday decisions and behaviours in Scotland.  

Here is the Tory amendment.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

Mr Allan says he is happy to support the Labour amendment.

The international development minister says he also agrees with points made in the Tory amendment and he looked at it "very carefully".

He says the government consider aid programmes to be important and the Tory amendment does not make clear that there is a need for aid and trade.

Mr Allan says he cannot support the Tory amendment for that reason.

Image source, bbc

Mr Allan says in Rawanda the Scottish government is seeking to empower communities to end povertry.

The international development minister says there is also work going on in Zambia to tackle soil degregation.

He says the government are also working in Pakistan to fund master courses for women. 

He says over £1m matched funding over 5 years for the Blantyre to Blantyre project which is a joint health venture. 

Mr Allan reminds there is a Blantyre in both Malawi and Scotland. 

The minister says the Scottish government will continue to ringfence £3m a year for Malawi.

Image source, Chris Watt

In 2015 Mary's Meals charity revealed it now provides one million children in some of the world's poorest countries a meal every day they attend school.

The Argyll-registered charity, which began in Malawi in 2002 by feeding 200 children a day, now works in 12 countries across four continents.

The group set up community-run school feeding programmes.

They encourage children who may otherwise be forced to work or beg to come to school.

Image source, bbc

Mr Allan says the government believe this model for international development is globally unique.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur intervenes to says civic groups are concerned by the lack of funding information.

Mr Allan says funding for civic groups is still being decided upon. 

The international development minister says there is a constant challenge with international development to recognise the urgent need as well as a country's long term need.

He cites the excellent work of Mary's Meals which provides over one million meals for children in Malawi every year.

Image source, bbc

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan says this is a dynamic new strategy. 

Mr Allan says the Scottish government has developed its own individual approach to international development work.

The international development minister says Scotland has been working with Malawi for a century and a half. 

Image source, Scottish International Development Strategy

The four priorities under the strategy, external to achieve its vision are:

• to encourage new and historic relationships
• to empower Scotland's partner countries

• engage the people of Scotland
• enhance global citizenship. 

The minister uses his motion to highlight the Scottish government's stated ways of working to achieve its vision and implement its priorities: 

• to invest its International Development Fund strategically and in line with good development practice 
• to utilise Scottish expertise to collaborate with others to achieve these ambitions, including its partner countries, civil society and other governments and donors to promote the Beyond Aid agenda;  

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan uses his motion to welcome the Scottish government's Global Citizenship: Scotland's International Development Strategy, external, which was published on 21 December 2016.

Image source, Scottish government

The motions says that the Scottish government and the Parliament both have a key role in continuing to provide a voice for humanity, tolerance and compassion as part of an interlinked, global community including through the expression of the concept of good global citizenship. 

Mr Allan says the Scottish government has pioneered a partnership approach to development that has helped Scotland and several developing countries to achieve mutual progress towards the UN Global Goals.   

Here is the Scottish government motion.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Scottish government will now lead a debate on Scotland's International Development Strategy.

SNP MSP Sandra White asks what the implications are for Creative Europe-funded projects in light of the EU referendum result.  

Image source, PA

International tourists spent more than £500m in Scotland in the second quarter of 2016, official figures showed.

It is the highest spend by overseas visitors between April and June ever recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

However, the overall number of visitors dropped 7.5%, with a decrease in European tourists.

VisitScotland said the Scottish tourism industry was showing "resilience amid global uncertainty".

Scottish Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart asks how the government is implementing the strategy, Tourism Scotland 2020.