Summary

  • MSPs quiz Education Secretary John Swinney on the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) Bill

  • Rural economy and connectivity ministers are quizzed, to be followed by environment, climate change and land reform ministers, in this week's portfolio questions

  • MSPs debate and then vote on the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill

  • Green MSP Andy Wightman leads a debate on Homes First

  1. Question: Liz Smithpublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks what discussions the government has had with angling clubs regarding the categorisation of rivers for 2018.

  2. Postpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

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  3. Question: Richard Lylepublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks what investment is planned from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.

  4. Background: Independent review over Scots EU farm funding rowpublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    cowsImage source, bbc

    An independent review of how some EU farm subsidies are distributed is to be held to resolve a row between the Scottish and UK governments.

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing had accused the Treasury of a "great rural robbery" of £160m in funds.

    The Scottish Conservatives have also campaigned for additional "convergence uplift" Common Agricultural Policy cash to be given to Scottish farmers.

    Mr Ewing met his UK counterpart Michael Gove on Monday and agreed to a review.

    The remit, timescales, process and personnel of the independent review is to be decided by the end of the year.

    The long-running row dates back to 2013, when the EU announced moves to redistribute CAP payments more fairly based on the basis of average Euros per hectare.

    The Scottish government contends that England, Wales and Northern Ireland were all above the qualifying threshold of 90% of the EU average, but Scotland sitting at 45% meant the UK was eligible for a £190m "convergence uplift" in funding.

  5. Question: Angus MacDonaldpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    SNP MSP Angus MacDonald asks the government when it last met the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    Mr Ewing says again he met Michael Gove on Monday.

  6. 'If a minister promises something, he has to deliver or he has to resign'published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Fergus Ewing

    Rural Economy Secretary says he asked UK government Michael Gove "during the Brexit referendum, if the £500m to the rural economy would be matched."

    He says: "Mr Gove has nothing to say on that whatsoever, we are completely in the dark what financial support will be provided.

    "If a minister promises something, he has to deliver or he has to resign."

  7. Postpublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

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  8. 'I won't be happy until everyone that is due payment receives payment'published at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Money in handImage source, Getty Images

    Fergus Ewing says that the Basic Payment Scheme for 2016 we paid 99.7%.

    "The LFASS payments for 15/16 are still being processed, but they are 98% for 2015 and 92% for 2016.

    "I won't be happy until everyone that is due payment receives payment, but I think this house can accept we are making good progress."

  9. Background: Farm profits may halve after Brexit, says reportpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    A farmer with cowsImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Dairy farmers might, in some circumstances, receive higher prices after Brexit says the report

    The profitability of the average UK farm could fall by as much as half after Brexit, new research suggested last month.

    The report, external, by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), says the "worst-case scenario" would cut average farm profits from £38,000 a year to just £15,000.

    The analysis tries to model the effects of cheaper imported food, reduced subsidies and more expensive labour.

    A government spokesman said the report was based on highly unlikely scenarios.

  10. Question: Peter Chapmanpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Conservative MSP Peter Chapman asks the Scottish government what it is doing to tackle reported falling farm incomes and rising farm debt.

  11. When will the computer work?published at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Tory MSP Edward Mountain asks when the computer will work.

    Mr Ewing accuses Mr Moutain on of "unremitting gloom".

    The minister says the computer is working, but it is not working to the deadlines yet.

    He says farmers and crofters welcome the loan scheme.

    in July we reported that 90.4% of EU farm payments were made before the midnight deadline.

  12. 'I am keen farmers and crofters receive the money they are entitled to'published at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Fergus Ewing

    Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing explains that: "£292m has been paid to businesses, showing the government's commitment to the rural economy.

    "Loan payments have been welcomed. And were paid a week earlier. I was determined we pay out the maximum possible."

    He adds: "Those who have yet to accept their loan offers may do so. I'm very keen they receive the money because they are entitled to it."

  13. Background: Nicola Sturgeon apologises to farmers over CAP 'failures'published at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

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

    Nicola Sturgeon visited the Royal Highland Show

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

    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.

    Read more here.

  14. Question: Stewart Stevensonpublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks whether the government will provide an update on progress with the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme.

  15. Portfolio questions: Rural Economy and Connectivitypublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    rural settingImage source, PA

    The government will now take questions on rural economy and connectivity as portfolio questions gets underway.

  16. Coming up in the chamber........published at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    child povertyImage source, Getty Images

    Rural economy and connectivity ministers will be quizzed quizzed, to be followed by environment, climate change and land reform ministers, in this week's portfolio questions.

    MSPs will then debate and then vote on the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill at the later decision time of 5.30pm.

    Green MSP Andy Wightman leads a debate on his Homes First campaign.

  17. That concludes the evidence session on Named Person legislationpublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    Mr SwinneyImage source, bbc

    Committee convener James Dornan asks if there will be strict guarantees given to individuals that it would only be if a practitioner breaks the law that they will be held responsible.

    Mr Swinney says the responsibility lies with the service provider rather than the Named Person and that is in law due to the 2014 Act.

    That concludes the evidence session with the education secretary.

  18. 'If we don't pass the Bill then the concept of the Named Person goes into a hiatus'published at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

    John Swinney

    Mr Swinney says: "The events that were associated with the Supreme Court challenge have created a very difficult set of circumstance for practitioners - circumstances that we didn't want to see happening.

    "It is clear that the legal uncertainty is creating some of that risk averse practice.

    "We have to make a judgement on how we resolve that issue.

    "It is my view it will be aided by the passage of this Bill because we will be able to put in place the legal clarity.

    "If we don't pass the Bill then the concept of the Named Person goes into a hiatus.

    "As a consequence the opportunity to support the enhancement of the well-being of young people will be diminished."

  19. Postpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

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  20. Postpublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2017

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