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Mr Russell says intergovernmental confidentiallity cannot always triumph over transparency.

He stresses the importance of the scrutiny of Holyrood.

The Brexit minister says he thinks the Welsh government has come up with interesting proposals for intergovernmental relations, adding the Joint Ministerial Committee is a system whose time never came.

Mr Russell says any amendment to the Bill must be approved by the Scottish and Welsh governments.

If there is no amendment, there will be no LCM brought to Holyrood and instead the EU Contunuity Bill will be brought forward, he warns.

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Green MSP Patrick Harvie asks if there is an amendment which would make Clause 11 "tolerable" or whether it should be removed.

Mr Russell says the Scottish government would prefer its removal.

However, he adds that an amendment setting out equality of treatment of all the governments and parliaments in the UK would be acceptable.

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The Scottish government has said an EU Continuity Bill is likely to be introduced at Holyrood next month.

It said the move was needed to prepare Scotland's laws for EU withdrawal if it is not possible to find agreement over the UK government's own Brexit bill.

The Scottish government's view that the Brexit bill is incompatible with devolution has been backed by the Constitution Committe.

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Brexit Minister Mike Russell welcomes the strong report from the Constitution Committee.

Mr Russell says he hopes this debate will be consensual.

He says the committee was unanimous that the parliament could not pass an LCM until Clause 11 is removed or replaced.

The Brexit minster says the government must prepare for consent being withheld.

He says the EU Continuity Bill is the next option if agreement with the UK government cannot be started.

Mr Crawford says: "It is imperative that the UK government takes action urgently to ensure the Bill respects the devolution settlemen."

Only then can the committee back an LCM to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Turning to common frameworks, Bruce Crawford notes the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments agree some will be required.

However, he says the UK and Scottish governments disagree on where the starting point for these frameworks should be.

The bill contains no provisions on common frameworks, he states, with it instead being left to intergovernmental discussions.

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The committee believes the process and content of common frameworks must not be imposed, Mr Crawford says.

He argues they must be transparent and inclusive, allowing MSPs and broader stakeholders to scrutinise them.

On meetings with the parliamentarians in London last week regarding amendments, he says the committee's message was well received.

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Bruce Crawford says the committee was very clear in its view of Clause 11 and its impact on the integrity of the devolution settlement and is incompatible with said

Mr Crawford says it cannot recommend the LCM to the Bill unless Clause 11 is amended or removed.

He expresses his "dismay and grave concen" that the UK government did not bring forward amendments in the House of Commons.

If a constitutional crisis is to be averted it is vital the UK government bring forward amendments to Clause 11, he says.

Last week Senior MSPs warned the UK Government that it must bring forward changes to the EU Withdrawal bill which respect the devolution settlement, if a constitutional crisis is to be averted.

Six MSPs, representing three of Holyrood's committees, set out cross-party concerns at House of Lords talks .

They said Clause 11 of the bill is incompatible with devolution - and must be replaced or removed.

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The Scottish and Welsh governments say they will not put the EU Withdrawal Bill forward for devolved consent votes as it stands.

Holyrood constitution convener Bruce Crawford said it was "vital" changes were made to protect devolution.

The UK government and the devolved administrations are at loggerheads over what will happen to powers which will come back from Brussels when the UK leaves the EU.

UK ministers had originally pledged to amend the disputed clauses in the legislation as it passed through the House of Commons, but after delays to agreeing the wording of amendments they now say this will have to wait until consideration in the House of Lords.

This has drawn strong criticism from the SNP, who term the current legislation a "Westminster power grab", while Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has called the delay "frustrating".

Both the Welsh and Scottish governments are working on their own stop-gap legislation should there be no resolution to the dispute and no consent votes passed.

Read more here.

Mr Crawford says the committee saught to bring clarity to the provisions in the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The Finance and Constitution Committee convener says the Bill is a challenge to the devolution settlement and undermines it.

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He says he will focus on Clauss 11 as it has been a significant focus of the committee due to its impact on the devolution settelment.

The SNP MSP says there is no timescale in the Bil for releasing powers taken in by Wesminster from the EU back to Scotland.

He says there are 111 areas which are affected by this.

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Promised changes to the UK government's EU Withdrawal Bill that would reflect concerns over its impact on devolution will be delayed, it has been confirmed.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell told MPs in December, external that the amendments would happen during the report stage in the House of Commons.

However, on 9 January, he said the changes will not happen until the bill reaches the House of Lords.

He also said the government remained committed to improving the bill.

Government sources said that the resignation of Damian Green - who had been leading talks with the devolved administrations - from his Cabinet Office post, coupled with the festive break, had caused the timetable to slip.

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Finance and Constitution Committee convener Bruce Crawford opens the debate, noting this is an interim report on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill and the final report will be published prior to final amending stage in the House of Lords.

There has been much discussion on what withdrawing from the EU will mean for the devolved settlements, he says.

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The Finance and Constitution Committee will now lead a debate on its report into the EU Withdrawal Bill LCM, external.

The argument over the EU Withdrawal Bill focuses on Clause 11, which deals directly with the devolved administrations and the powers coming back from Brussels post-Brexit.

The clause has been attacked by groups including the Scottish government, SNP MPs at Westminster and even Scottish Conservative MPs, one of whom described it as "not fit for purpose".

MSPs on the Constitution Committee unanimously added their weight to this, saying that "Clause 11, as currently drafted, is incompatible with the devolution settlement in Scotland".

Labour MSP Neil Findlay also points out that in 2016 the first minister gave assurances that the children's ward in Paisley would not be closed.

He accuses the first minister and the health secretary fo a "blatant betrayal of the people of Paisley" and asks how the people of Livingston can have faith their children's ward in St John's Hospital will remain open.

Ms Robison says: "Only person talking about the closure of the paediatric ward in Livingston is Neil Findlay."

She accuses Mr Findlay of scaremongering and potentially scaring away doctors from wanting to work their.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says the first minister made a commitment in the election that the RAH children's ward would not close.

She asks if Shona Robison consulted the first minister on the decision.

The health secretary says there was no proposal with the Scottish government to close any wards until 14 March 2017.

She says this was the first time she saw any clinical evidence.

"The decision is my decision as laid out and required to be my decision."

Ms Robison says the first minister has accepted this fully.

SNP MSP Claire Haughey welcomes the decision to not close the Lightburn Hospital.

The health secretary says a lot of work has to be done around Libhtburn Hospital.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene seeks confirmation that there are no plans to divert patients from A&E at Inverclyde to the Royal Children's Hospital.

Shona Robison says the Scottish Ambulance Service already takes children directly to the Royal Children's Hospital is that is where they would be treated best.

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SNP MSP George Adam calls for reassurance for open door families before any changes are made to Ward 15 at the RAH.

Ms Robison says this is a very important as he refers to families with complex needs.

She says those reassurances will be given.

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It's the turn of Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton next and he says this closure is very significant for the families.

Mr Cole-Hamilton asks the health secretary to bring proposals like this closure to parliament to debate before a decision is made.

Ms Robison says these are difficult decisions and she understands the depth of feeling among the famileis.

The health secretary says as a politician she has to listen to the clinical advice.

She says: "The decision rests with me."

The health secretary says unless there is paediatric specialist in the chamber, then the clinical advice of the local doctors must be followed.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the change will increase demand and calls for the health secretary to ensure the hospital is properly funded.

Ms Robison says part of the agreement is for some of the savings to be reinvested in building up local services and ensuring plans are in place for families.

She says that in terms if the treatment pathway, the proposal will lead to a better and safer model.

86% of children in the Paisley area will continue to be seen at RAH A&E, she adds.

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Labour MSP Neil Bibby says over 17,000 people campaigned to stop the closure of the children's ward.

Mr Bibby says the SNP's behaviour has left families betrayed and he asks why the cabinet secretary ignored parents affectes.

He accuses the cabinet secretary of snubbing the parents

I didn't snub the parents, I met with the parents and listened to their concerns.

She says again the decision was made on the advice of the local doctors, to give better outcomes for the children.