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Lord Advocate James Wolffe says the government's preferred position would be a single piece of UK legislation that Holyrood could agree to, but we are not at that point yet.

Mr Wolffe adds that the continuity bill has been created by skilled draftsmen.

He says the Welsh continuity bill has the same purpose as the Scottish continuity bill.

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The Welsh Government is to press ahead with plans for a law to prevent what ministers have dubbed a post-Brexit "power-grab".

The assembly will be asked to back - as an emergency measure - a Continuity Bill that will give it powers in devolved areas currently held at EU level.

Ministers remain opposed to UK government Brexit legislation that will hold many of the powers in Westminster.

The UK government has promised changes but no agreement has been reached.

It said there was "no need" for the Welsh legislation.

Read more here.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks what happens if the Supreme Court strikes down the continuity bill.

Mr Wolffe responds as clearly as he can.

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Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says these are extraordinary circumstances.

Mr Harvie says no reasonable person could have imagined them.

The Lord Advocate says the Scottish government has ensured the Scottish Parliament will not put the UK in breach of its EU obligations.

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The Lord Advocate says the Scottish Parliament is satisfied with the continuity bill and says he is not aware of major differences between the Welsh and Scottish continuity bills.

Mr Wolffe says he cannot comment on parliamentary scrutiny.

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Labour MSP Neil Findlay urges the Scottish and UK governments to resolve their differences over Clause 11 of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Mr Findlay asks what the differences are between the Welsh legislation and the Scottish legislation, given the Welsh Bill was deemed competent by the Welsh Assembly.

He asks about the timetable for the scrutiny of the continuity bill.

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The Lord Advocate says his analysis reflects the analysis of the Supreme Court in the Miller case.

Mr Wolffe says he does not believe the bill breaches UK obligations under EU law.

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Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks for clarity around the policy memorandum for the continuity bill.

Mr Tomkins says the UK can be constrained by EU law after Brexit and explains how.

His second question relates to the difference between legal affect and legal validity.

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The Lord Advocate says the bill makes provision for the continuity of the law on Brexit.

Mr Wolffe says the bill will ensure the continued effectiveness of the law on departure from the EU.

He says the legislation will also avoid breach of any EU law.

The Lord Advocate says if the continuity bill is not compatible with EU law, then there is an argument that the EU Withdrawal Bill itself is not compatible with EU law.

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Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh announced that he does not believe it currently falls within Holyrood's remit, which may leave the legislation open to legal challenge if it is passed.

He said the bill "anticipates the impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union", and as such "assumes that the parliament can make provision now for the exercise of powers which it is possible the parliament will acquire in the future".

He said that as it stands, the bill "would not be within the legislative competence of the parliament".

Scottish ministers have tabled their own alternative to the EU Withdrawal Bill at Holyrood.

The Scottish and UK governments are locked in a dispute over sections of the Westminster bill relating to devolved powers.

A continuity bill has been introduced at Holyrood, external as a stop-gap solution if MSPs do not consent to the UK bill.

However, the presiding officer has not backed the move, saying it is not for Holyrood to legislate on.

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Scottish ministers "respectfully disagree", and are to press ahead with the legislation anyway.

The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill has now been formally introduced at Holyrood.

It is an alternative to the EU Withdrawal Bill, focused on devolved matters, to be used in the event that MSPs do not give their consent to the Westminster legislation.

The Scottish government says there was still scope for a deal to be agreed with Westminster, but has rejected the current offer from UK ministers.

• What is the Brexit continuity bill?
• Brian Taylor on law, politics and the continuity bill

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The Lord Advocate says this is a legal question which can ultimately be judged in court.

He says he will leave the politics to others.

Mr Wolffe says this bill will be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe says there is no precedent, as far as he knows, for this statement.

The Lord Advocate says the presiding officer and himself both have to look at the legislative competence of any legislation.

He says he cleared the certificte of competence for the Continuity Bill.

The Lord Advocate stresses he is not criticising the presiding officer.

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Lord Advocate James Wolffe gives a statement on the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill.

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In the chamber, MSPs will quiz the culture, tourism, external affairs and justice ministers.

Lord Advocate Justice Wolffe will then give a statement on theUK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill.

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After that, the Scottish Conservatives will lead a debate on the early years.

The day concludes with SNP MSP Clare Haughey leading a debate marking eating disorders awareness week 2018.

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Police Scotland has said it is considering closing 53 buildings across Scotland that are "no longer required".

Forty-three of the buildings are currently empty, but the others are still used as a base for police officers or staff.

The properties were selected after a review of the entire police estate.

Twelve properties are being considered for closure in the Highlands and Islands, as well as nine across north-east Scotland.

Staff occupying the 10 buildings that are still being used would be relocated to other permanent facilities, Police Scotland said.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Gail Ross seeks an update on Police Scotland's consultation regarding its 53 buildings that are no longer required.

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The controversial merger of British Transport Police with Police Scotland will be be delayed, the Scottish government announced last week.

.Justice Secretary Michael Matheson described the longer timetable beyond April 2019 as "disappointing".

But he said it would allow more time to engage with the Transport Police Federation on issues like pay and conditions.

The Conservatives had already called for the move to be be put on hold.

The functions of BTP were due to be absorbed into the national force on 1 April 2019. The government said a new merger date was still to be confirmed.

Police Scotland said it had become clear the existing merger deadline could not be met "without compromising public safety".

Read more here.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene raises the proposed merger of the British Transport Police and Police Scotland.

Last month, it emerged that Scotland's firefighters were being offered a pay rise of up to 20%if they agreed to take on new responsibilities.

Between 200 and 300 jobs could be cut from the service as part of the deal.

Rather than a pay rise, it was described as a new reward package for a new expanded role, tackling terrorism and providing emergency medical care.

The amount officers get will depend on their current level of pay and special allowances.

Read more.