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Scottish Secretary David Mundell says since October there have been significant developments, including the speech from the prime minister.

Mr Mundell says Scotland will not be in the EU at the end of the Brexit process.

He says: "There is no set of circumstances in which Scotland could remain a  member of the EU after the rest of the UK has left".

MSPs will now questions Scottish Secretary David Mundell on the implications of Brexit for Scotland.

Mr Mundell will tell the Europe committee that there are "no circumstances" which would see Scotland stay in the EU when the UK leaves.

He will tell members that even if Scotland became independent it would need to apply to join the EU afresh.

The Scottish government said it would "pursue every necessary option to protect our place in Europe".

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has put forward a paper of "compromise" proposals aimed at keeping Scotland inside the European single market, and has said UK moves away from the single market "undoubtedly" make a second independence referendum more likely.

The UK government meanwhile highlighted "strengthening the union" as part of its approach in its Brexit white paper.

MSPs recently voted by 90 to 34 to oppose triggering Article 50, the formal start of the Brexit process, although the Supreme Court has ruled that there is no legal need for Holyrood to give its consent.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine says Mr Hands has particular expertise in the fiscal framework and asks about the common agricultural funds post-Brexit.

Mr Hands says that will be a matter for the Treasury but the important this is that the funding has been guaranteed up until 2020.

Ms McAlpine thanks Mr Hands for his evidence and calls a short suspension for a change in witness. 

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald highlights the important role of the Court of Justice of the EU and asks if the UK government's desire to distance itself from the court threatens agreement in the negotiations over trade.

He says leaving the jurisdiction of the ECJ (Court of Justice for the European Union) does not prevent a common assessment of standards.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine asks if any free trade deal will cover services and agriculture.

Mr Hands says that remains to be seen.

"We want the deal to be the most comprehensive that anyone has negotiated anywhere in the world," he says.

Ms McAlpine asks if it will include services and agriculture.

Mr Hands says both are very important, but it remains to be seen exactly what will be in the deal.

He says it is a negotiation, therefore, he will not say today what will be included in the deal.

Mr McMillan asks if there is a timescale for getting WTO processes in place.

Mr Hands says he will write to the committee on this.

Mr McMillan asks what the UK government would do to deal with the negative affects of WTO rules.

The international trade minister says "the obective is to have tariff-free trade."

"That is what all our efforts are being put towards, and I am confident we can achieve that" says Mr Hands.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks Mr Hands to reflect upon his comments referring to Scotland as a "region".

"Scotland is a country," he says.

Mr Hands says "of course I recognise that Scotland is a nation." He says he has family in Scotland.

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Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton raises the issue of the Scotch whisky industry.

Mr Hands says his department works very closely with the Scotch Whisky Association.

The international trade minister says 93% of Scotch whisky production was exported to the tune of £3.999bn.

He says the US is the biggest export market.

Ms Johnstone asks why the UK government will not simply take EU nationals off the negotiating table.

Mr Hands says it would not be right to ignore the rights of UK nationals living and working in EU countries.

He says it is not in the interests of either side to jeopardise anyone's status. 

Ms Johnstone asks if the UK government will concede that freedom of movement is non negotiable. 

Mr Hands says the UK will be taking back control of the immigration policy in full. 

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Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks if Mr Hands is comfortable with the level of uncertainty and insecurity EU citizens are facing

Mr Hands says 17% of his constituency are EU nationals and says he is married to an EU national so these concerns are close to home.

The minister asys the UK government is adopting the right approach and he hopes there will be early agreement with the EU to guarantee the status of citizens.

He says: "I am confident their status will be sorted out."

Mr Hands says the UK government will have control of immigration policy.

SNP MSP Emma Harper says Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson made a statement at the NFU meeting last week saying we should do more to take advantage of emerging markets.

Ms Harper says the EU market is the most successful.

International Trade Minister Greg Hands says as we go forward "we have one of the best international markets out there."

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The Scottish Parliament voted by 90 to 34 to oppose the UK government starting the Brexit process.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that there was no legal need for Holyrood to give its consent to the triggering of Article 50.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would let MSPs have a say, despite it being largely symbolic.

Ms Sturgeon predicted the vote would be one of the most significant in the Scottish Parliament since devolution.

The SNP tried to block the UK government's Brexit bill last month.

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Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw asks if there was a differentiated settlement for Scotland what would the consequences be.

Mr Hands says the most important thing to do is to make sure that trade within the UK is not made more difficult.

The international trade minister says the exports to the rest of the UK is worth £49.8bn.

He says avoiding trade difficulties within the UK is of "paramount importance".

Committee convener Joan McAlprine says Mr Hands mentioned the universities sector and says the UK government are treating universities as a low priority.

Ms McAlpine says this is of concern to the committee because of the importance of universities to the Scottish economy.

Mr Hands says the actions of the UK government show that there has been a high priority attached to universities and they are an important part of our free trade future.

The international trade minister says universities are essential going forward and that they are internationally attractive. 

Mr Hands says it is wrong to say there will be a decline in standards, as a result of Brexit, on imported goods.

The UK minister says it is important the free trade agreements does not impinge on any country's right to regulate product standards.

Mr Lochhead says Mr Hands seems very dismissive of any bespoke arrangement for Scotland and asks if the international trade minister does not support such an arrangement.

"I wasn't being dismissive," says Mr Hands.

He says there is a lot we can agree on in the white paper such as protecting workers rights.