Image source, Getty Images

That ends our coverage of the Scottish Parliament for Thursday 1 June 2017.

We'll be back next Tuesday.

Until then, have a good weekend.

MSPs unanimously agree to the general principles of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill, external.

We now move to decision time where MSPs will vote on the general principles of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill.

Image source, bbc

Communities and Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says having targets and reporting back to the parliament will help address child poverty.

Ms Constance stresses what can actually be done as opposed to the problems of that can't be addressed.

The minister says while child poverty is at scandalous levels it used to be at similar levels to the UK and now it is lower in Scotland than any other nation.

She says that is the difference the Scottish Parliament has made.

The minister says her plans are for a poverty and inequality commission and she says she is not currently persuaded by the case for a statutory commission.

She says topping up child benefit is not bad idea, but it is not the best idea.

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says poverty crushes individuals and communities.

The social security secretary says no target is perfect and that it is action that is important.

She says that requiring the government to report annually leads to more scrutiny and ultimately better action.

Ms Constance says the Scottish government is fighting poverty with one arm tied behind its back.

Image source, bbc

Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins asks what is the cause of poverty and what are the by-products.

The Tory MSP says it seems to be the government's view that only income can be thought about in tackling poverty, at least in this Bill.

He says an effective child poverty strategy is not going to work if it focuses only on income.

SNP MSP Alex Neil says a decent basic income is the prerequisite for challenging child poverty.

Mr Tomkins says their difference on this is tiny then.

He says his party amend the bill to include targets on the attainment gap and reducing the number of children growing up in workless households.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says he hopes the debate will be widened during the stage 2 and 3 debate.

Mr Rowley says there is a need to redistribute power and wealth in this country and that the Labour manifesto contains ways to do this.

The Labour MSP says "we've got to move beyond simply targets" and that action speaks louder than words.

He says 70% of children in poverty in Scotland are in families where at least one person is in work.

Mr Rowley says a coherent anti-poverty strategy for Scotland is required.

He says "we need an independent commission to ensure scrutiny."

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Clare Adamson commends the work of the Social Security Committee and on being able to find consensus over child poverty.

Ms Adamson says there is an absolute gulf between the Tory party and everyone else on the symptoms and the causes of child poverty.

She says the two child tax credit cap will exacerbate child poverty, along with the "horrible rape clause".

Tory MSP Jamie Greene gives a moving personal account of his own childhood in poverty, during which he often went to school hungry, his school uniform was never new and there was addiction and domestic violence problems in his home.

Mr Greene says he accepts that there are children in poverty whose parents are working and points out that his own mother worked as much as she could.

He says he has no interest in opposing for opposing's sake at any stage of this Bill nor does he think there is any "magic wand" to fix this problem.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP George Adam says the Bill is something he is very passionate about as he wants nothing more than to see children flourish and thrive and achieve their dreams.

Mr Adam says: "We must ensure that every single child in Scotland is protected and given every opportunity to succeed."

He says: "I believe this Bill is a step in the right direction."

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says a statutory duty is required to eradicate child poverty.

Ms Smith highlights a child named Kirsty, living in her constituency, in poverty. She says, for the first five years of Kirsty's life, she has shared a room with her parents in a private flat with no outside space

The Labour MSP says, in that time, no council house has been offered to her family and both her parents have to work because they cannot afford child care.

She says Kirsty does well at school but questions how long that can be sustained.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says under UK government welfare reform the UK level of child poverty will rise to five million.

Mr Macpherson says he very much welcomes the Child Poverty Bill as it will focus the mind and reinstate targets, after the UK government regrettably repealed parts of the Child Poverty Act 2010.

He says also welcomes the cabinet secretary's commitment to bring amendments at Stage 2 to introduce interim targets.

Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst says tackling child poverty is not and easy task for any government.

Mr Lindhurst says the Child Poverty Bill indicates how difficult it is to arrive at a suitable conclusion.

SNP MSP Ash Denham says a number of Tory MSPs have used the phrase "root cause" and that the "root cause is the Tory party". "Will you answer that," she asks.

Mr Lindhurst says "no, not at the moment because I thought you were asking a question".

The Tory MSP says narrowing and eventually closing the attainment gap could help with poverty.

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire says only by increasing the income of families in poverty can real improvements be made.

Ms Maguire says income, or the lack of it, is at the root of this issue.

The SNP MSP says "having no money and sending your bairns to bed with no food is poverty."

She says any interim targets must be achievable.

"We're here because the UK government took the disgraceful decision to repeal the Child Poverty Act," she says.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says this is an area of "vitally important public policy".

Mr Scott says it cannot be good enough there are so many young Scots are in poverty.

He says he agrees more detail should be on the face of the bill, including educational attainment, sports participation and fuel poverty targets.

Mr Scott says there is a commonality of view in the briefings today that an independent commission be put in place.