Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland's future 'should not be imposed'

Summary

MSPs debate whether to call for a second independence referendum, in a debate entitled 'Scotland's Choice'
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addresses MSPs, saying she had not taken her decision "lightly"
Nicola Sturgeon insists that Scotland's future should be decided by the people who live there rather than being "imposed upon us"

Live Reporting

And we're off....published at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Health Committee convener Neil Findlay gets us underway by introducing:
- Neil Craig from NHS Health Scotland
- Dr Eleanor Hothersall from NHS Tayside
- Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling
- Dr Helene Irvine, consultant in public health medicine
- Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland
- Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board
- Mairi Simpson, public health practitioner, Midlothian Integration Joint Board
- Fraser McKinlay, director of performance audit, Audit Scotland
First though.......published at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
The Health Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
- Sale of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products by Persons Under 18 (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/50)
- Sale of Tobacco (Register of Tobacco Retailers) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/51)
The Health Committee will begin shortlypublished at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Image source, Science Photo Library
The Health Committee will shortly begin its evidence session on the preventative agenda.
MSPs will quiz:
- Neil Craig, principal public health advisor, NHS Health Scotland
- Dr Eleanor Hothersall, consultant in public health and honorary senior clinical lecturer, NHS Tayside; Professor David Bell, professor of economics, University of Stirling
- Dr Helene Irvine, consultant in public health medicine
- Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland
- Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board
- Mairi Simpson, Public Health Practitioner, Midlothian Integration Joint Board
- Fraser McKinlay, director of performance audit, Audit Scotland
The submissions from the witnesses can be read here., external
Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Livepublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2017
Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live.
The main business of the day will see MSPs debate whether to call for a second independence referendum, in a debate entitled 'Scotland's Choice'.
The debate will follow this afternoon's topical questions.
It will take place over two afternoons, with the crucial vote during Wednesday's decision time at 5pm.
Image source, PA/Thinkstock
We'll bring you extensive coverage of the debate, including all the social media reaction.
We begin our coverage with the Health and Sport Committee as it takes evidence on the preventative agenda in the NHS.
The member’s debate will be led by Labour MSP Rhoda Grant and focusses on loneliness, marking the launch of campaign to tackle loneliness launched in the name of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.