Summary

  • The Europe Committee takes evidence from International Trade Minister Greg Hands and Scottish Secretary David Mundell on Brexit.

  • Portfolio questions: rural economy and connectivity ministers followed by environment, climate change and land reform brief

  • Ministerial Statement: Scottish government responds to the social security consultation

  • Health Secretary Shona Robison will lead a debate in tribute to the late MND campaigner Gordon Aikman

  • SNP MSP Colin Beattie leads this evenings member's debate entitled: Industrial Strategy for a More Prosperous, Fairer Britain

  1. That's all from Holyrood Livepublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    MND campaigner Gordon Aikman
    Image caption,

    MND campaigner Gordon Aikman

    That's all from Holyrood Live on the day when the Scottish Parliament paid tribute to the late MND campaigner Gordon Aikman. 

    We'll be back tomorrow morning at 9am with full and extensive coverage of the Culture Committee as BBC director-general Tony Hall gives evidence. 

    Then n the afternoon, MSPs will debate the Budget Bill as Finance Secretary Derek Mackay asks for it to be supported and its final stage. 

    We'll see you then. Have a good night. 

    Holyrood
  2. 'Hard Brexit carries uncertainty'published at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the days of these debates being consensual is a thing of the past and he refers to the "sniping" of Tory MSP Dean Lockhart and Labour MSP Richard Leonard. 

    Mr Brown refers to job losses in the industrial sector and says the UK government has done nothing to prevent it in some cases.

    Labour MSP Richard Leonard intervenes to say "we are not living in record low unemployment times".

    Mr Brown says he did not say unemployment was at a "record low". 

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown
    Image caption,

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown

    The economy secretary says the first minister set up task forces when TATA Steal was under threat and acted to ensure a deal went through. 

    Mr Brown says "there are clouds on the horizon and a hard-Brexit carries uncertainty."

    He says a hard-Brexit would damage jobs. 

    Mr Brown says there are two active governments in the Scottish economy. 

  3. Brexit does present opportunities says Labour MSPpublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay says we need to create jobs and prevent job losses and, to achieve this, Scotland needs an industrial strategy.

    Mr Findlay says, while there is uncertainties over Brexit, there are also opportunities.  

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay

    The Labour MSP says we need to support the transition to a greener economy.

    He says he hopes the Parliament does not repeat the mistakes of the past that happened under the Tory Westminster government in the 1980s. 

  4. Tory MSP pleased the UK government has developed an industrial strategypublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr says it is hard to see where the Industrial Communities Alliance and the UK government differ in their aims for the UK's industrial sector. 

    Mr Kerr says he welcomes the Industrial Communities Alliance report and he is pleased the UK government has developed an industrial strategy.

    He says he looks forward to all stakeholders working together to achieve its objectives. 

  5. SNP MSP refers to jobs being protected in the Lochaber Aluminium Smelterpublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes says the Lochaber Aluminium Smelter, in her constituency, highlights that jobs can be protected in the industrial sector. 

    Ms Forbes says if this can be replicated across Scotland then pride in industrial towns can be restored. 

  6. 'We need a long term strategy for industry in Scotland'published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Labour MSP Richard Leonard
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Richard Leonard

    Labour MSP Richard Leonard says today 200,000 people work in the industrial sector.

    Mr Leonard says "we need a long term strategy for industry in Scotland."

    He says the strategy must promote democracy locally and trade unions.

    "I hope this document being discussed helps this Parliament and government," he says. 

  7. SNP MSP hails success of My Futures in Falkirk initiativepublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    SNP MSP Angus Macdonald
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Angus Macdonald

    SNP MSP Angus MacDonald says the ethos and belief of My Futures in Falkirk could be implemented in other areas.

    Mr MacDonald speaks to the success of the initiative and the difference it has made to Falkirk's economy.

  8. The UK has had success in the car and aerospace industries says Tory MSPpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Tory MSP Dean Lockhart says the report by the Industrial Communities Alliance is welcome. 

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay intervenes to ask Mr Lockhart to reflect on the Westminster Tory government's "devastation" of the industrial sector in the 1980s. 

    Dean Lockhart

    Mr Lockhart says before that came the 1970s when a bailout to the industry was required thanks to the Westminster Labour government. "Lets not go over history," he says. 

    Mr Lockhart says the UK has had success in the car and aerospace industries. 

    He says, to replicate this success, the Scottish government must work with the UK government on an industrial strategy. 

  9. Brexit has presented a period of great uncertainty says SNP MSPpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    SNP MSP Colin Beattie
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Colin Beattie

    SNP MSP Colin Beattie thanks those who have supported the motion, particularly Labour MSP Richard Leonard who, he says, helped to draft it.

    Mr Beattie says Scotland's economy is far too reliant on its financial sector as opposed to the industrial sector.

    The SNP MSP refers to the devastation of the industrial sector in recent years. 

    He says Brexit has presented a period of great uncertainty and there are risks to the funding of these sectors. 

    "We need new ideas and strategies like the city deals," he says. 

  10. Background: Industrial Strategy for a more prosperous, fairer Britainpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    The Industrial Strategy for a more prosperous, fairer Britain, external aims to:

    • Provide an economic context in which industry can prosper 
    • Hold the line here: Britain should not abandon any more sectors of manufacturing production 
    • Welcome free trade – but only on the basis of fair competition 
    • Use public procurement as a tool to support British industry 
    • Make sure the banks provide long-term finance to industry 
    Industrial Strategy for a more prosperous, fairer BritainImage source, Industrial Communities Alliance
    • Exploit the scope to provide aid to industry 
    • Target resources at the high-level technical skills that industry needs 
    • Invest more in the infrastructure schemes that really matter to industry 
    • Support energy-intensive industries by reducing their bills 
    • Harness Britain's innovative strengths through effective research and development   
  11. Industrial strategy for a more prosperous, fairer Britain debatepublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    SNP MSP Colin Beattie will now lead a debate entitled: Industrial Strategy for a More Prosperous, Fairer Britain. 

    Here is Mr Beattie's motion: 

    MotionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  12. The Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motion is agreed topublished at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    The Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motion is agreed to, with 112 for and five against.

    Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  13. Postpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  14. The government motion as amended is agreed to unanimouslypublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Gordon Aikman

    The government motion as amended is agreed to unanimously. 

    MotionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    AmendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Gordon Aikman
  15. The Labour amendment is agreed to unanimouslypublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    The Labour amendment is agreed to unanimously. 

    Gordon Aikman
    AmendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  16. Summary of MND announcementpublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Mr Aikman died earlier this month after being diagnosed with MND in 2014Image source, PA
    Image caption,

    Mr Aikman died earlier this month after being diagnosed with MND in 2014

    A new £25,000 scholarship to support improvements in motor neurone disease (MND) care in Scotland is to be set up in honour of campaigner Gordon Aikman.

    Mr Aikman died earlier this month at the age of 31 after raising £500,000 for MND research following his diagnosis with the disease in 2014.

    The scholarship will fund people who are developing improvements in the way people with MND are cared for.

    It was announced by Health Secretary Shona Robison at Holyrood.

    Ms Robison also said she had asked the Chief Scientist's Office to work with the NHS to take forward discussions on how to bring MND clinical trials to Scotland.

  17. Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motionpublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Rural Economy and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing asks Parliament to agree a Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motion. 

    Digital Economy Bill legislative consent motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  18. Gordon's Fightback: That concludes the debate in tribute to Gordon Aikmanpublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Gordon campaigned tirelessly for MND ScotlandImage source, Twitter/MND Scotland
    Image caption,

    Gordon campaigned tirelessly for MND Scotland

    Gordon Aikman was diagnosed with MND at the age of 29, and raised funds for research into the degenerative condition.

    His Gordon's Fightback, external campaign won support from all of Scotland's political leaders.

  19. 'Please know you are remembered in all our hearts and you have made Scotland a better place'published at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Gordon Aikman
    Image caption,

    Minister pays tribute to the late Gordon Aikman

    Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says we need to continue to take forward work to make things better for people with neurological diseases. 

    Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale intervenes to ask the minister to address some of the IT issues she had mentioned in her opening speech.

    Ferrnando Rickson
    Image caption,

    Rangers supporters have been raising funds for former player Fernando Rickson who was diagnosed with MND in 2013.

    Ms Campbell says there are areas where NHS Scotland can improve its IT system and the government will continue to look at this.

    The public health minister refers to work carried out by Rangers supporters for former player Fernando Rickson. 

    "Rest in peace Gordon but please know you are remembered in all our hearts and you have made Scotland a better place," she says. 

  20. 'Gordon made a huge difference'published at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Public Health Minister Aileen CampbelImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Public Health Minister Aileen Campbel

    Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says it is clear to hear, from members across the chamber, what an inspiration Gordon Aikman was.

    Ms Campbell says: "Gordon made a huge difference."

    The minister says, after Gordon's campaigning, the Scottish government put in extra £2.5m annually in specialist nursing and doubled the number of MND specialist nurses.

    She praises the moving personal contributions of both Christina McKelvie and Clair Baker.

    Ms Campbell says the £25k scholarship in the name of Gordon will help those who suffer from MND.

    She praises Euan MacDonald for all the work he has done to help those with MND.