Summary

  • The Finance and Constitution Committee vote on amendments to the budget after evidence from Finance Secretary Derek Mackay

  • Economy, jobs and fair work ministers and finance and constitution ministers are quizzed during portfolio questions

  • Justice Secretary Michael Matheson makes a statement on undercover policing

  • The government leads a debate entitled ‘Stemming the Plastic tide’

  • Tory MSP Liam Kerr leads a member’s debate focussing on the work of the Aberdeenshire-based veterans charity Horseback UK

  1. Here is the Green amendmentpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Green amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  2. Green MSP lambasts 'blasé throw away culture'published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Green MSP Mark RuskellImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Green MSP Mark Ruskell

    Green MSP Mark Ruskell says the "blasé throw away culture" has blighted the seas and oceans.

    Mr Ruskell objects to the word litter and says it should be called plastic pollution.

    Green MSPs says we must screen out microfibres from the water cycle.

    He says it appears the Scottish government has not had a focus on the microfibre issue.

    The Green MSP says the forthcoming plastic summit in Oban would be an opportunity to address this

  3. Bckground: Giant build up plastic trash in the oceanpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Media caption,

    The giant build-up was captured by underwater photographer Caroline Power.

  4. 'Let Scotland rise to the challenge'published at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Claudia Beamish

    Claudia Beamish says education is necessary to increase recycling.

    She confirms Labour will be abstaining on the Scottish Conservative amendment as more information is required before a moratorium is instituted.

    "Let Scotland rise to the challenge," Ms Beamish concludes.

  5. Here's the Labour amendmentpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    amendment LabourImage source, Scottish Parliament
  6. Labour MSP says she supports the developing bans on plastic usepublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Labour MSP Claudia BeamishImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Claudia Beamish

    Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says she supports the developing bans on plastic use.

    Ms Beamish says it is essential the Scottish government gives guidance and support to manufacturers.

    She says it is welcome the Scottish government is producing a plastics scheme designed for Scotland.

  7. There will be more litter than fish in seas by 2050, warns Tory MSPpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Maurice Golden

    Maurice Golden notes 80% of the litter in the sea comes from the land, with 12.7 million tonnes of plastic which end up in the ocean every year.

    He notes that by 2050 there will be more litter in the seas by weight than fish.

    Producer responsibility could help tackle the issue, he says, by influencing disposal and design.

    Viable alternatives to plastic also need to be considered, Mr Golden argues.

    He calls for recycling targets to be stepped up and says there is an argument for a pan-UK deposit return scheme.

  8. Here is the Tory amendmentpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Tory amendmentImage source, bbc
  9. Tory MSP calls for a moratorium on new incineratorspublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Tory MSP Maurice GoldenImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Maurice Golden

    Tory MSP Maurice Golden says he likes the cabinet secretary's starter for ten.

    Mr Golden also likes the motion, Green MSP Mark Ruskell's amendment and Labour MSP Claudia Beamish's amendment.

    He says it would be incongrous to tackle plastic pollution and then to see Scotland be the ashtray of Europe.

    SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor says the Tories are trying to hijack an important debate.

    Mr Golden calls for a moratorium on new incinerators.

  10. Don't just wait for legislation to change actions, says Ms Cunninghampublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Roseanna Cunningham critises the Scottish Conservatives' motion for attempting to "shoehorn" incinerators into this debate.

    Lib Dems MSP Liam McArthur suggests time should be set aside for a separate discussion on incinerators.

    Ms Cunningham agrees to consider this.

    Lib Dems MSP Liam McArthur
    Image caption,

    Lib Dems MSP Liam McArthur

    The environment secretary welcomes many local and community-based campaigns, particularly in schools, which aim to tackle plastic pollution.

    Nurdles and beach litter are an important issue, she says, hence the funding to address litter sinks along the coastline.

    She says it is important to taken an evidence-based approach and introduce legislation where required, but not just wait for legislation to change as consumers and suppliers.

  11. Background: Use of plastic straws scrapped at Scottish Parliamentpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Parliamentary corporate body member Kezia Dugdale with straw campaigner Kate ForbesImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Image caption,

    Parliamentary corporate body member Kezia Dugdale with straw campaigner Kate Forbes

    The Scottish Parliament has stopped using plastic drinking straws in its own cafes, bar and canteen.

    Up until the end of 2017, Holyrood's catering outlets were using about 4,000 plastic straws each year.

    However amid rising concern about single-use plastics, paper straws are now being provided instead.

    Kezia Dugdale, a member of Holyrood's corporate body management group, said the move was "part of a bigger picture" to protect the environment.

    Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes has been running a campaign, external, backed by the Marine Conservations Society, aiming for a "plastic straw free Scotland".

    Read more here.

  12. Here's the government motion on plastic wastepublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Ms CunninghamImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Ms Cunningham

    Ms Cunningham says she will appoint a disabiliy adviser to the expert panel on plastic waste.

    The minister says cutting the use of plastic where possible and recycling are key.

    MotionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  13. Background: Scottish government bans plastic-stemmed cotton budspublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Hundreds of plastic bud stems collected on just 100m of beach at Gullane, East LothianImage source, Clare Cavers
    Image caption,

    Hundreds of plastic bud stems collected on just 100m of beach at Gullane, East Lothian

    The sale and manufacture of plastic-stemmed cotton buds is to be banned under new Scottish government plans.

    The move follows concerns about the number of buds being washed up on beaches after being flushed down toilets.

    Most major retailers have already switched to paper-stemmed buds following a campaign but plastic ones are still being sold.

    Hundreds were recently found on Gullane Beach.

    Read more here.

  14. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle must be brought back, says environment secretarypublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham commends Blue Planet 2 for highlighting the need for individual and collective action on plastic waste.

    Plastic has become a fundamental part of our lives, she says, warning that change will not be easy.

    The 'reduce, reuse, recycle' mantra must be brought back, she adds.

    Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
    Image caption,

    Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham

    The cabinet secretary highlights the intention to bad plastic cotton buds and the decision to ban microbeads are examples of efforts to reduce plastic.

    She notes these are just two items in the long list of plastics washing up on Scotland's shores.

  15. 'Stemming the Plastic Tide' debatepublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Manta ray with plastic in IndonesiaImage source, ELITZA GERMANOV/MARINE MEGAFAUNA FOUNDATION
    Image caption,

    Manta ray with plastic in Indonesia

    The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'Stemming the Plastic Tide: Action to Tackle the Impact of Single-use Plastics on Land and in our Seas.'

  16. SPA will appoint new chief constablepublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Michael Matheson

    SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks about the recruitment of the new chief constable.

    Michael Matheson says it is a decision for the Scottish Police Authority.

  17. 'An insult to women, their families and other victims' - Monica Lennonpublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon says not setting up an inquiry is "an insult to women, their families and other victims".

    Mr Matheson highlights safeguards in place and the way in which HMICS found them to be operating.

  18. Lib Dem MSP disappointed no public inquiry into undercover policingpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthurImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur

    Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur expresses disappointment that there will not be a public inquiry into undercover policing.

    Mr McArthur calls for an independent expert group to bring transparency and localism back into Police Scotland.

    Mr Matheson reiterates his reasons for not instigating an inquiry into undercover policing.

  19. Postpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

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  20. Green MSP backs calls for inquiry into undercover policingpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2018

    Green MSP John Finnie
    Image caption,

    Green MSP John Finnie

    Green MSP John Finnie urges the justice secretary to establish an inquiry into undercover policing.

    Mr Finnie suggests that evidence indicates the issue stems back 40 years and current information from Operation Herne is likely to be "missing and inaccurate".

    Michael Matheson says the report recognises some of the information is provisional, based on millions of documents being analysed.

    This is why he will reconsider the decision should new evidence come to light.

    He adds that current evidence does not establish a need for a separate inquiry at this stage.