Summary

  • The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee takes evidence on the replacement Forth Crossing from Economy Secretary Keith Brown

  • Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing gives evidence, after the government again asked for an extension to the deadline for making EU farming payments.

  • Communities, social security and equalities ministers are in the hot seats during portfolio questions

  • The Scottish government leads a debate on the next steps for education governance

  • Labour MSP James Kelly leads a debate entitled 'Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and Carers'

  1. Background: 'Vaccine' created for huge cyber-attackpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Cyber hand emerges from computerImage source, Thinkstock

    Security researchers have discovered a "vaccine" for the huge cyber-attack that hit organisations across the world on Tuesday.

    The creation of a single file can stop the attack from infecting a machine.

    However, researchers have not been able to find a so-called kill switch that would prevent the crippling ransomware from spreading to other vulnerable computers.

    Experts are still unsure about the attack's origins or its real purpose.

    Read more here.

  2. Fujitsu report suggests 'how deep the ditch is'published at 10:21 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Edward Mountain

    Committee convener Edward Mountain says the issue here is that that the government publication of the Fujitsu report suggests "there is a ditch in the road", but the full Fujitsu report suggests just "how deep that ditch is."

    Mr Mountain asks when more details of the Fujitsu report will be made available to the public.

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says that he wants to be as transparent as possible but that it would be "foolhardy" to release details of the report when there is a threat to cyber-security.

    Mr Ewing says he must be responsible and not facilitate hackers.

    He says that there are examples of cyber-attacks across the world and that it would be irresponsible to publish the whole report when threats to cyber-security exist.

  3. Background: What are the CAP payments?published at 10:20 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    TractorImage source, Getty Images

    Reforms to the CAP system saw the Single Farm Payment Scheme replaced by the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015.

    The BPS is the main EU subsidy available to farmers in Scotland, with the money being allocated by the Scottish government.

    The payments are designed to act as a safety net for farmers and crofters by supplementing their main business income.

    19,674 different Scottish rural businesses received a total of about £650m in CAP payments last year.

  4. Brexit minister giving evidence to the Finance and Constitution Committeepublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Brexit Minister Mike RussellImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Brexit Minister Mike Russell

    Brexit Minister Mike Russell is currently giving evidence to the Finance and Constitution Committee.

    You can watch it live by clicking on the small box below our video stream of the Rural Economy Committee.

  5. Minister says he entirely accepts the Fujitsu report calls for remedial actionpublished at 10:16 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Mr EwingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Mr Ewing

    Mr Ewing says the supplier accepts the over all finding of the Fujitsu report.

    The economy secretary says the overall conclusion of the report is that the IT system is fundamentally sound and is working, but it is not yet working to the time limits.

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says the report published by the Scottish government was selective.

    Mr Rumbles says the decision has been made not to publish critical comments.

    The minister says he entirely accepts the report says remedial action is required and criticisms were made.

  6. Backround: MSPs clash with minister over IT farm system reportpublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    MSPs clashed with Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing over a "highly-critical" report into the £178m IT system set up for farm payments on 10 May 2017.

    Holyrood's rural economy committee was not provided with the full report because it was still in draft form.

    Its convener Edward Mountain said a lack of full disclosure meant questioning Mr Ewing was "limited".

    Field covered in frostImage source, Thinkstock

    The minister said he would have preferred to have provided a complete report, but could not do so.

    Mr Ewing went on to explain that the executive summary, which was shared, contained the main conclusions.

    The report, carried out by Fujitsu, looked at the system for making European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments.

    Read more here.

  7. 'I want to be as cooperative as possible'published at 10:12 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Fergus Ewing

    SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson says some matters cannot be published due to "evil forces being able to attack the IT systems".

    Mr Stevenson asks what is being done to ensure the IT systems are as robust as possible to protect against cyber-attacks.

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says he takes the Fujitsu report "very seriously".

    Mr Ewing says all the details within the report have not been published due to commercial confidentiality and the potential threats to cyber-security.

    The rural economy secretary says these are not "fanciful issues and must be taken very seriously".

    "I want to be as cooperative as possible," he says.

  8. Background: More on Nicola Sturgeon's apologies to farmerspublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Highland cow Eleanor, from Angus, this year's breed champion in the Highland Cattle sectionImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Highland cow Eleanor, from Angus, this year's breed champion in the Highland Cattle section

    Ms Sturgeon told farming leaders that "significant progress" was being made.

    She said: "We have made a clear commitment to do all we can to make the 2016 pillar one payments by the end of next week, the set payment period, although we have discussed the contingency of an extension to that with the European Commission.

    "At present we've made more than £249m of these payments and of course farmers have been given access to loans pending the delivery of their actual payments.

    "We are making significant progress now on payments and on resolving the remaining IT issues in the system.

    "I want to assure you today...there's no complacency on the Scottish government's part about this matter.

    "We have already apologised and we do so again today to farmers for the failures that have been experienced in the system and I guarantee that we will continue to give this matter our full focus and attention to ensure that farmers get the service that they deserve."

  9. Minister says Scottish government has asked for EC extensionpublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Mr Ewing says claims must be validated and processed across Scotland and good progress is being made on a daily basis.

    The minister says the government is seeking to minimise financial penalties and that is why it has written to the European Commission to ask for an extension.

  10. Background: Nicola Sturgeon apologises to farmers over CAP 'failures'published at 10:07 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Nicola Sturgeon visited the Royal Highland ShoImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Nicola Sturgeon visited the Royal Highland Sho

    Nicola Sturgeon apologised to farming leaders for "failures" in her government's EU subsidy payment system.

    The European Commission has confirmed the government wants next week's deadline extended until 15 October.

    The first minister said there was "no complacency" on the part of her government and insisted there was a "100% focus" on getting payments made.

    However, farming leaders said they wanted progress made in delivering the "vital" subsidies, not more apologies.

    Ms Sturgeon has faced questions over her government's handling of Common Agricultural Policy payments, with 5,000 farmers out of a total of about 18,000 said to have still not received their money with a week to go until the deadline.

    The deadline was also extended to October last year after problems with the Scottish government's new £178m IT system caused delays to payments that left many farmers facing a cash flow crisis.

    The government had been facing fines of between £40m and £125m for failing to meet last year's deadline, before the extension was agreed.

    The government had been facing fines of between £40m and £125m for failing to meet last year's deadline, before the extension was agreed.

    Read more here.

  11. Not possible to say that all payments will be made by the end of the week says Mr Ewingpublished at 10:06 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Mr Ewing says over 13,000 farmers and crofters received their entitlement of 2016 Pillar one payments via the loan scheme.

    The rural economy secretary says at this stage it is not possible to say with 100% certainty that all payments will be made by the end of this week.

  12. Rural economy secretary outlines paymentspublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus EwingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says today the government begins £6.7m payments under Scottish Upland Sheep Support scheme.

    Mr Ewing says 99.9% of the 2015 CAP Pillar One payments were made by the deadline date.

    The minister says there are only 25 payments outstanding.

    He says 85% of the LFASS payments for 2015 have been made.

  13. Background: MSPs to question Fergus Ewing over farm payout 'failures'published at 09:59 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    About 5,000 farmers out of a total of about 18,000 are said to have still not received the paymentsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    About 5,000 farmers out of a total of about 18,000 are said to have still not received the payments

    Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary will now face questions over "failures" in the government's EU farm subsidy payment system.

    It emerged last week that Scottish ministers want this week's deadline extended until 15 October.

    About 5,000 farmers are said to have still not received their money.

    Fergus Ewing will tell the rural and economy and connectivity committee how work to distribute Common Agricultural Policy payments is progressing.

    The evidence session follows questionson the Queensferry Crossing.

    Read more here.

  14. We now move to the evidence session on CAP paymentspublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    sheepImage source, Thinkstock

    The committee will now take evidenc from Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing on Common Agricultural Policy payments:

    The minister will be joined by

    • Eddie Turnbull, head of agriculture and rural communities information systems, Scottish government
    • Annabel Turpie, chief operating officer rural payments operation, Scottish government
    • Andrew Watson, deputy director for agricultural policy implementation, Scottish government
  15. Postpublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

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  16. Postpublished at 09:58 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

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  17. That ends the evidence session on the Queensferry Crossingpublished at 09:54 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Committee convener Edward Mountain thanks the witnesses and says he is excited about the opening of the bridge.

    Mr Mountain suspends briefly.

  18. M8, M73 and M74 improvementspublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    SNP MSP Richard Lyle raises the M8, M73 and M74 improvements saying they are largely in his constituency.

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the level of activity and work has been tremendous.

    Mr Brown says there is still work going on around areas like cone removal and landscaping.

    The minister goes on to praise Michael Martin, the project director of the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors.

  19. Postpublished at 09:46 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

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  20. A9 road infrastructure projectpublished at 09:45 British Summer Time 28 June 2017

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown

    Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks if Mr Brown can foresee any delays to deadlines on A9 project.

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown says no and there has been good progress made to the point of construction on routes.

    Mr Brown says he does anticipate finishing by 2025.

    He says there is no reason to change financial estimates at the moment but that may change overtime.

    Mr Brown says the phases of the project will be taken into consideration each year in the budget.