Summary

  • The Justice Committee take evidence on demand-led policing from organisations

  • Topical questions features questions on concessionary travel and help for victims of rape.

  • Ministerial statement on the draft Scottish Energy Strategy

  • The Scottish government leads a debate on developing forestry in Scotland

  • Update on ScotRail Performance Improvement Plan ministerial statement

  • Tory MSP Donald Cameron leads a member's debate entitled 'World Cancer Day, an Opportunity to Tackle Obesity'

  1. Cross party support for Scale Down Cancerpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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  2. Postpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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  3. Postpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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  4. Postpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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  5. Public ownership of land does not necessarily mean state ownershippublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Mr Wightman says, unlike most European countries, the Scottish government publish nothing on forest holdings. 

    ForrestImage source, Forestry Commission

    The Greens MSP says across Europe forests are owned by co-operatives. 

    He says public ownership of land does not necessarily mean state ownership.

    Mr Wightman says a new Forestry Act should allow others to be appointed to take care of forests rather than only the Forestry Commission being considered. 

  6. Green MSP 'a little bit discouraged with the lack of ambition' of the Scottish governmentpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Green MSP Andy WightmanImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Green MSP Andy Wightman

    Green MSP Andy Wightman says he started his working life in forestry.

    Mr Wightman says he is a little bit discouraged with the lack of ambition of the Scottish government.

    He welcomes the devolution of forestry but says a new act should go further.

    The Green MSP says the new act should promote the sustainable management of all forests.

    He calls for more ambition. 

  7. Here is the Scottish Greens amendment.published at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Here is the Scottish Greens amendment.

    Greens amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  8. Forests used for timber should be planned as close to railways as possiblepublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Forest used for timberImage source, Thinkstock

    Mr Grant says forests close to towns and cities, not only provides timber, but also recreational opportunities.

    The Labour MSP says rural roards are often poorly maintained and timber trucks can cause more damage.

    She says forests used for timber should be planned as close to railways as possible.

    Ms Grant says there are concerns about the greens amendment as it may lead to privatisation. 

  9. Labour MSP welcomes the further devolution of forestrypublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Labour MSP Rhoda GrantImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says her party welcomes the further devolution of forestry, which should help the Scottish government meet its targets.

    Ms Grant says Scotland must work with other parts of the UK on disease control and on research.

    The Labour MSP says there needs to be a strategy that works.

    She says there needs to be a national plan for where we encourage planting.

  10. Here is the Scottish Labour amendmentpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Here is the Scottish Labour amendment.

    Labour amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  11. Tory MSP asks the minister to consider ways to encourage farm woodlandpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Tory MSP asks the minister to consider ways to encourage farm woodlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP asks the minister to consider ways to encourage farm woodland

    Mr Chapman says subsidies only cover the first ten years and it takes longer for trees to become valuable for the grower.

    The Tory MSP asks the minister to consider ways to encourage farm woodland.

    He says Brexit undoubtedly poses a challenge for forestry but the answer is simple - the funding must be provided.

    The Tory MSP says two thirds of the trees that have been planted have been hard wood which is of less use.

  12. Large swathes of land in Scotland are abandoned and could be planted onpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman says there is a great deal of consensus around forestry management and it is an important part of Scotland's economy.

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman

    Mr Chapman says plating trees will sustain timber supplies, jobs and help Scotland achieve climate targets. 

    The Tory MSP welcomes the increasing hectare target and says less than 20% of Scotland's land area is forestry. 

    He says there are large swathes of land in Scotland that are abandoned and could be planted on. 

  13. Here is the Scottish Conservative amendmentpublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Here is the Scottish Conservative amendment.

    Tory amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  14. Background: Forestry and Land Scotland to be formedpublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    While Holyrood currently determines overall strategy and policy for forestry in Scotland, management remains the preserve of the Forestry Commission, a cross-border public authority.

    The draft bill from the Scottish government would see a new agency - Forestry and Land Scotland - being created to manage all publicly-owned land and plantations.

    Trees lit up in Faskally WoodImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Trees lit up in Faskally Wood

    The Forestry Act of 1967 would be replaced with what ministers have called "a modern approach to the development, support and regulation of forestry".

    The policy and regulatory functions of the Forestry Commission would be absorbed into the civil service - something campaigners have said will lead to a loss of professional forestry expertise.

  15. Minister will introduce a bill to complete the devolution of forestrypublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    MinisterImage source, bbc

    Mr Ewing says all he will introduce a bill to complete the devolution of forestry - the Forestry Bill.

    The minister says he has worked with the Lib Dems prior today to underscore his determination to work with all members to get this right.

    He says he wants to build on the success of Forest Enterprise Scotland. 

  16. Postpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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  17. The Forestry Bill - reactionpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: "Firstly, we think that forestry should be directly accountable to the people of Scotland through the Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament. This bill will do that.

    "Secondly, of course forestry is hugely important to Scotland, employing 25,000 people and generating £1bn a year - and it can be even more successful still.

    "So we have ambitious targets to plant more trees to achieve our environmental targets and also further to grow a very successful part of Scotland's rural economy."

    Woodland Trust ScotlandImage source, Woodland Trust Scotland
    Image caption,

    Woodland Trust Scotland

    But Charles Dundas, from the Woodland Trust Scotland, has cautioned against some aspects of the bill.

    He told the BBC: "The Forestry Commission is one of the best delivering public agencies in Scotland. It delivers on bio-diversity, on climate change and so many of those really important issues that we don't want to see that good work lost.

    "Once this is brought into the civil service, there's a big worry that will be diluted by the generalists across the civil service and that single point of expertise is going to be lost."

  18. Forestry Grant Scheme has been well receivedpublished at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Mr Ewing says Scotland's processing sector is world renowned.

    The rural economy secretary says the Forestry Grant Scheme has been well received.

    He says there is clearly room for growth in terms of woodland areas. 

  19. Background: Forestry Billpublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    The Forestry Bill will ensure the Scottish government has control of all aspects of forestry and introduce new arrangements for its governance, development, support and regulation.

    It will also transfer the powers and duties of the Forestry Commissioners - as they relate to Scotland - to Scottish ministers.

    ForestImage source, Forestry Commission Scotland

    A forestry and land management body will be established and will focus initially on the development and management of the Scottish Ministers' National Forest Estate.

    It will also have the flexibility to use land for a variety of purposes and the potential to take on management of other publicly-owned land in the future.

  20. The World Cancer Day debate now begins at 5.30pmpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

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