Image source, bbc

The Scottish government will now ask Holyrood to "acknowledge the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs".

The government motion asks MSPs for permission to "take forward discussions" with the UK government over a section 30.

It says this would allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a referendum that will "give the people of Scotland a choice over the future direction and governance of their country".

• May and Sturgeon's indyref2 gambles

The motion says it would be for Holyrood to decide the timing and question for a referendum, and to set out who would be eligible to vote in it.

It says the referendum would "most appropriately" be held between the autumn of 2018, when there is expected to be clarity over the outcome of the UK's Brexit negotiations, and the spring of the following year, when the UK is due to leave the EU.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish Parliament will start a two-day debate on whether to seek permission to hold a second independence referendum, just after 2pm and time for reflection.

The Scottish government wants to hold a referendum in the autumn of 2018 or the spring of the following year.

But the Conservatives have  tabled an amendment, external  calling for the parliament to rule out a referendum before April 2019.

The UK is currently expected to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said last week that a referendum would need to be held before Brexit, "or at least within a short time of it", to prevent Scotland facing a "lengthy period" outside both the EU and the single market if it becomes independent.

Her minority SNP government will ask MSPs to back its plans to ask Westminster for a section 30 order, which is needed to make a referendum legally binding.

• Is there a referendum date that would suit both sides?
• Allan Little examines Scotland's dilemma

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Image source, PA

The Conservatives are trying specifically to make sure a referendum doesn't happen prior to April 2019.

That is interesting because potentially, at least in theory, it means it might be possible for the referendum to take place later in the spring of 2019 - after the Brexit negotiations are finished, but within the first minister's preferred timescale.

That would only be possible if the UK government was prepared to sit down and discuss the transfer of the power prior to that point.

The indication last week from the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, was that it would not be.

• Do voters want a second referendum?

A live audience debate on Scotland's future will be broadcast on BBC1 Scotland from 18:50 until 19:30 on Tuesday  

Image source, PA

Holyrood's Brexit minister has claimed the UK government "forgot" to tell him the date for when it was going to trigger Article 50.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK would  start the process of leaving the European Union next Wednesday .

The announcement will set in place a two-year negotiation process.

But Michael Russell, who is leading the Scottish government's Brexit talks with Westminster, said he only found out the date when it was reported by the BBC.

Mrs May had  previously said that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March , but the exact date was only confirmed on Monday.

Mr Russell, who is a member of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on EU negotiations, tweeted: "Thank you @BBCNews for letting JMC members like me know that #Article50 is to be triggered next week".

• What is Article 50? What happens next?
• Brexit: All you need to know

e SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has told her party conference that the will of Holyrood "must and will prevail" over a new independence referendum.

MSPs will debate calling for permission for a vote on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Theresa May said  "now is not the time"  for a second referendum and has indicated that the UK government would reject the SNP's preferred timetable.

Ms Sturgeon told delegates that refusing the call would "shatter" the idea of a partnership of equals.

A second referendum has become the focus of the conference after the UK government said it would reject Ms Sturgeon's  call for a vote  between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.

• Brian Taylor on Nicola Sturgeon's strategy
• Prime Minister Theresa May wants 'more united Britain'
• Gordon Brown: 'Holyrood should gain Brexit powers'

Read more here

Theresa May has set out her desire to create a "more united" Britain, in a speech in Cardiff.

The prime minister told the Conservatives' spring conference that Britons are "at heart one people" be they Welsh, English, Scottish or from Northern Ireland.

It follows Nicola Sturgeon's  demands for a second independence referendum for Scotland.

Mrs May has already  rejected the call  from Scotland's first minister.

Scotland  voted to remain in the UK  in 2014 but the SNP administration in Edinburgh wants a fresh vote as the UK plans to leave the European Union.

Scottish voters opted by a majority to remain in the EU, with England and Wales voting to leave.

Mrs May said on Thursday it was "not the right time" for another independence referendum.

Read more here.

Prime Minister Theresa May is to officially notify the European Union next Wednesday that the UK is leaving.

Downing Street said she would write a letter to the European Council, adding that it expected negotiations on the terms of exit and future relations to then begin as quickly as possible.

The move comes nine months after a referendum in which the UK voted to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%.

An EU spokesman said it was "ready and waiting" for the letter.

Under the Article 50 process, talks on the terms of exit and future relations are not allowed until the UK formally tells the EU it is leaving.

If all goes according to the two year negotiations set out in the official Article 50 timetable, Brexit should happen in March 2019.

• What is Article 50? What happens next?
• Brexit: All you need to know

The Scottish Conservative leader has said the majority of Scots do not want a second independence referendum.

Ruth Davidson told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that Nicola Sturgeon's call for such a vote was "not the will of the Scottish people".

She said: "The SNP is not Scotland, they are acting against the majority wishes of the people of Scotland."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scottish voters had the right to a choice on the country's future

Ms Davidson was speaking six days after Scotland's first minister announced she wished to hold another independence referendum in autumn 2018 or spring 2019 once the terms of the UK's Brexit deal "became known".

Nicola Sturgeon said Scottish voters should then be given a choice about the country's future direction.

Read more here.

Scotland's first minister said she remained "determined" to have an independence referendum on her timescale despite Theresa May saying that "now is not the time".

Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Scotland it would be "anti-democratic" for the UK government to block a referendum.

And she said she would consider her options if the will of the Scottish Parliament "is not respected".

Mrs May said the focus should be on securing the best possible Brexit deal.

She added that it would not be fair for the people of Scotland to be asked to make a decision on independence before the terms of Brexit were clear.

• BBC's Brian Taylor on the political stand-off

Image source, PA/BBC/THINKSTOCK

Just one item of business this afternoon with MSPs debating whether to seek permission for a second independence referendum, in a debate entitled 'Scotland's Choice'.

It will take place over two afternoons, with the crucial vote during Wednesday's decision time.

We'll bring you extensive coverage of the debate, including all the social media reaction.  

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says "we need to build confidence that people can influence the health service".

Mr Briggs says we need to make sure people's voices are listened to and not just heard.

Mr Findlay thanks all the patients who came in to the parliament  and with that the committee moves into private session. 

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Neil Findlay says the patients were very constructive in their comments.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey agrees saying there were positives about good episodes of care.

Ms Haughey says everyone said it was about being listened to. 

Greens MSP Alison Johnstone says she believes people do not want to go through a complaints process they just want someone to deal with the problem.

"They just want someone to talk to," she says.

Convener Neil Findlay says there seems to be a lot of frustration around the complaints process. 

Mr Findlay says the point was made by one of the participants that "you have more rights and ability to complain about a tin of peas than yo do about your health care."

The committee will now discuss this morning's informal evidence session with NHS Scotland patients.

Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board says "lets make sure we are still paying attention to the Christie Report" in terms of collaboration.

Fraser McKinlay, director of performance audit, Audit Scotland makes a plea for stakeholders to stop using jargon because it is used too much.

Mr McKinlay says there should be better use of money and clear plans on how money is used.

Image source, bbc

Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling says the health system can lend support to sustainable economic growth. 

Neil Craig from NHS Health Scotland says the emphasis should be on cost effectiveness and addressing health inequalities.

Mr Craig calls for a review of the current regime of targets.

Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland says there should be more regulation on the food industry around health.

Prof McCartney says anything new should be experimented with to make sure it works. 

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Neil Findlay asks the witnesses for one thing they would increase and one to get rid off.

Dr Eleanor Hothersall from NHS Tayside says so much of what happens is chasing the targets that are there and Dr Irvine mentions the four hour target in A&E and breast screening.

Dr Hothersall says these are like sacred cows and there must be evidence for them.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says social prescribing could be a "huge opportunity" and asks where there needs to be a change in the system.

Mairi Simpson, public health practitioner, Midlothian Integration Joint Board says GPs just don't have the time and link workers can offer support and refer patients to other organisations.

"It is very difficult for GPs during a ten minute appointment," she says.