Summary

  • The Europe Committee takes evidence on the presidency of the Council of the European Union from the Ambassador of Estonia to the UK H.E. Tiina Intelmann.

  • Scottish government ministers are quizzed during general questions

  • John Swinney takes questions from opposition party leaders and MSPs during first minister's questions

  • The lunchtime member's debate focuses on tackling incontinence in Scotland

  • MSPs debate the Scottish government support for veterans and the armed forces community in Scotland

  1. 'Veterans are an asset to our communities'published at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Labour MSP Mark Griffin

    Labour MSP Mark Griffin argues that "service men and women make a successful transition.

    "They are an asset to communities.

    "Veterans have transferable skills that they may not realise that they have."

  2. Postpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

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  3. 'All parties need to come together to help veterans'published at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Conservative MSP Maurice Corry

    Conservative MSP Maurice Corry says: "Helping veterans isn''t a party politcal issue.

    "It is something we need to come together on and get right.

    "Getting a veteran into a job or training can often be the best thing to help turn around their whole life."

  4. 'Scotland continues to lead the way with the only veterans commissioner in the UK'published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Veteran Minister Keith Brown talks about the "changing the military landscape in Scotland."

    He says that there has been "devastating closures across Scotland."

    On the issue of the Ministry of Defence not yet announcing all the planned changes, he says it is "wholly unacceptable "

    Talking of the devolved powers the Scottish government has, Mr Brown says: "Scotland continues to lead the way with the only veterans commissioner in the UK.

    Cabinet Secretary Keith Brown

    The minister says "The government has responded positively to all the commissioner's recommendations."

    Mr Brown announces that the government has "committed £5m so that veterans in social care receive their full pensions.

    "Our aim is to make sure there is no disadvantage from having served in the military."

  5. Scottish Government support for Veterans and the Armed Forces Community in Scotlandpublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    There are an estimated 400,000 ex-servicemen and women living in ScotlandImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    There are an estimated 400,000 ex-servicemen and women living in Scotland

    The Scottish government has today published the Scottish Government support for Veterans and the Armed Forces Community in Scotland, external.

    It sets out the government's achievements and future priorities, and highlights the work that it is taking forward to respond to the recommendations made in the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s three reports:

    Scotland's first Veteran's Commissioner was appointed to provide greater support for Armed Forces personnel.

    Former Navy officer Eric Fraser took on the role in 2014.

  6. Background: Armed forces and veterans communitypublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Armed forces dayImage source, Crown Copyright 2014

    The minister details government actions to support the armed forces and veterans community:

    We have:

    • appointed the first Scottish Veterans Commissioner, external to act as an ambassador for veterans and make recommendations for improving services for Armed Forces personnel
    • established the Scottish Veterans Fund, external to support projects that provide a wide range of advice and practical support to veterans across Scotland
    • provided more than £360,000 in funding to Veterans Scotland, external to assist the organisation in building capacity and to support a number of specific programmes for the veterans community
    • established a network of Armed Forces and Veterans Champions in NHS Boards, Scottish local authorities and Police Scotland
    • become a full partner in Scotland’s Firm Base arrangements, which ensures that the military and civil society work together to care for serving personnel, veterans and their families in an approach that also brings benefits to the wider community
  7. And we're off...........published at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Veterans Minister Keith BrownImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Veterans Minister Keith Brown

    Veterans Minister Keith Brown says he will continue to press the UK government to think again about the ill thought out changes to bases.

    Last November we reported that eight military sites in Scotland would close in the next 16 years, cutting the defence estate by 20%, the UK defence secretary has announced.

    Sir Michael Fallon said major Army bases at Fort George in the Highlands, Glencorse Barracks, near Penicuik, and Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh would shut.

    Stirling's Meadowforth Barracks and three other bases would also close.

    They are among 56 sites which will shut across the UK.

    Naval base MoD Caledonia in Rosyth, Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh and Forthside Barracks in Stirling will also be shut down.

  8. MSPs debate support for veterans and the armed forces community in Scotlandpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    veteransImage source, bbc

    Scottish government Debate: Scottish government Support for Veterans and the Armed Forces Community in Scotland.

  9. Postpublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

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  10. Government happy for Bill amendmentspublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse

    Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse says "The Scottish government agrees with the committee that the Bill may need to be amended to ensure appropriate and proportionate appeal and dispute mechanisms are put in place."

  11. What is a Pow?published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur explains what a Pow is.

    He says: "Where there is a ditch or slow running stream of running water, a pow provides drainage.

    "The pow of Inchaffray is 13.7 miles long."

    The convener says: "We support he general principles of the Bill.

    "We are confident sensible compromises can be found."

  12. Pow! Robert the Bruce played his partpublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Media caption,

    Digital reconstruction gives glimpse of Robert the Bruce

    The Pow of Inchaffray is a drainage channel that provides drainage to its surrounding lands in the local authority area of Perth and Kinross.

    It originates at Methven Moss and meanders in a south-westerly direction for approximately nine miles until it reaches the River Earn, about two and a half miles south east of Crieff.

    Together with its 10 main tributaries the Pow is the equivalent of 13.7 miles long.

    The function of the Pow is to drain a total area of surrounding land of approximately 1,930 acres.

    The origins of the Pow as a drainage channel can be traced back over hundreds of years having been originally dug by Augustinian canons around 1200AD with further work carried out on the orders of King Robert the Bruce following the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

  13. Preliminary Stage Debate: Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Billpublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur leads the debateImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur leads the debate

    MSPs debate the Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill, external.

    The Bill will:

    • incorporate and reconstitute the Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission
    • make provision for its functions and for the appointment of Commissioners
    • make provision for the calculation of the annual assessments payable by the owners of land benefited by the Pow; to make provision for meetings of the Commissioners and heritor
    • make provision for the Commissioners to have access to the Pow over neighbouring land for necessary purposes and for the Commissioners’ consent to be required for activities affecting the Pow and adjacent land
  14. Postpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

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  15. Coming up in the chamber this afternoon....published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    MSPs will debate support for veterans and the armed forces community in ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    MSPs will debate support for veterans and the armed forces community in Scotland

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur will start the preliminary the Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill from 2.30pm.

    Then MSPs will debate support for veterans and the armed forces community in Scotland from 3pm.

  16. Health minister to see what more can be done to help tackle incontinencepublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Health Minister Shona Robison

    Health Minister Shona Robison is asked by Alex Cole-Hamilton will she commit to a national stretegy around incontinence.

    Ms Robison says: "I will certainly look at what can be done".

  17. Postpublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

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  18. 'Incontinence is no laughing matter. Is is thoroughly miserable' - Neil Findlaypublished at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay

  19. 'If we tackle this problem early there can be a real economic benefit'published at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson

    SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson says "I hope this debate will help people feel a little bit more comfortable talking about these issues."

    He says: "Glasgow Caledonian University say that 30-40% of people over 65 suffer with incontinence."

  20. 'Sufferers feel unable to take part in activities we take for granted'published at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2017

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon talks about how the condition can stop sufferers taking part in things "we take for granted."

    She says: "Being unable to access a toilet has a huge impact. Travelling and shopping for example."

    Ms Lennon argues that the closing of public toilets does not help.

    She says: "In many railways and bus stations, they charge for toilets, and this can create a barrier for those who wish to use the facilities."