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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says he will be supporting the general principles of the Continuity Bill.

However Mr Rumbles says as ever the devil is in the detail.

He adds: "Oh boy is there a devil in this detail"

Mr Rumbles says the Continuity Bill takes powers away from Hoyrood and gives them to Scottish government ministers.

He urges the removal of Section 13 from the bill and he says the powers of primary legislation must not be taken away.

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SNP MSP Joan McAlpine says the EU Withdrawal Bill is an "act of vandalism against this parliament".

Ms McAlpine warns against the "power grab" it represents.

SNP MSP Kate Forbes says there were promises that Brexit would lead to more powers for Scotland.

Yet the EU Withdrawal Bill and even the proposed amendment would restrict Holyrood's powers, she warns.

We will not sign away responsibility no matter how temporarily, Ms Forbes concludes.

"It is a matter of profound disappointment and regret that we are having this debate," says Labour MSP Neil Bibby.

He points to joint efforts to amend the EU Withdrawal Bill across parties and devolved administrations.

The parliament and public are still unaware what the 25 areas of remaining disagreement are and he wonders why this information is not available.

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor says ministers have made it clear that the Continuity Bill is a back-up plan should no agreement be reached on the Withdrawal Bill.

He suggests that, despite its emergency status, this bill is still being intensely scrutinised.

We are told never to panic in an emergency, yet the SNP has allowed its panic to invent an emergency, Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton begins.

She urges the Scottish government to work with the UK government to get the best out of Brexit.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan accuses the UK government of "acting like petulant children".

If the UK government bring forward amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill which are agreeable, this Bill will be withdrawn, he explains.

Noting timescale issues, Mr McMillan says: "It is absolutely necessary for this bill to be brought forward as emergency legislation."

Tory MSP Maurice Golden argues the bill is "a salacious attempt to launch a second independence campaign".

He accepts there are challenges to overcome before Holyrood can grant consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill, but he expresses confidence that a deal can be made.

"That the powers of this parliament are under threat is not in dispute," SNP MSP Tom Arthur notes, pointing to the Finance and Constitution Committee's report on the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The continuity bill is a correct and proportionate measure to create a safety net should an agreement in the EU Withdrawal Bill not be reached, he argues.

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Labour MSP Claire Baker says this is unlike any Stage One debate she has ever been involved in.

Ms Baker says: "We have not had time to pause or to catch breath."

This leads to concerns about the scrutiny of the bill she says.

The government need to be more transparent about the points of contention between the government,s insists Ms Baker.

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SNP MSP Alex Neil says he was concerned by reports at the weekend that the UK government was intent on freezing the powers of the Scottish Parliament and not passing on 25 EU powers.

Mr Neil says his worry is that these briefings suggest a change of policy and the UK government is digging in its heels and deciding Scotland will not get the 25 powers.

He says these devolved powers should be repatriated to Holyrood as they belong to it.

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Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw defends Mary Berry, referring to Mr Findlay's comment that this bill was one of her custard pies for the Scottish Conservative party leader.

Mr Carlaw inists Ms Berry would create a custard tart not a pie and refuses an intervention from Neil Findlay saying he doubts he could learn muchabout baking from the Labour MSP.

He goes on to say he hopes the nature of an agreement can be found on Clause 11 can be found to make sure this Continuity Bill is not necessary.

"In order to protect this parliament's power and this parliament's place in this nation, we need this bill today," SNP MSP Christina McKelvie says.

Leaving the EU will deprive us of the benefits of the charter of fundamental rights, she warns.

"The Conservative notion that there is no threat is a fantasy," the MSP adds.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford says he is "deeply dismayed" the Scottish government have had to introduce this Continuity Bill, but he says it is essential.

Mr Crawford says this debate today is about protecting the democracy Donald Dewar and others allowed to flower.

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The SNP MSP, who is NOT speaking as convener of the Finance and Constituion Committtee, rather for his party, says he hopes this bill will become a historical irrelevance due to agreement being found.

Mr Crawford says he disagrees with Neil Findlay that this bill is a custard pie saying its much more an "Eton mess".

He gives that line to Ash Dehnahm as not so many laughed as he thought would!

Delegated Powers Committee convener Graham Simpson says his committee has considered whether:

• conferring these powers on ministers is appropriate
• the bill meets the policy intention
• the powers will be subject to the appropriate level of scrutiny

The committee convener welcomes the restriction of ministers' powers in section 11 around the necessity test.

He also praises the Brexit minister for committing to amend the section of the bill referring to exit day for clarification.

Image source, PA/BBC

The UK government is making a new attempt to win the support of peers in the House of Lords in the continuing row over what will happen to powers that return from Brussels after Brexit, and whether they should go to Westminster or Holyrood.

The Scottish and UK governments are currently embroiled in lengthy negotiations about where the repatriated powers will end up.

Scottish ministers have accused their UK counterparts of wanting to ''mount a power grab'' and ''disrespecting the devolution settlement'' by not automatically transferring powers to Holyrood.

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The UK government says the vast majority of powers will go to the Scottish Parliament but some must be retained at Westminster to protect the UK internal market.

Now it has emerged that the Cabinet Office minister, David Lidington, whose leading the negotiations on behalf of the UK government, will brief peers tomorrow evening following the latest round of talks in London between the UK and Scottish governments.

Peers are due to discuss the so called clause eleven aspect of the EU Withdrawal bill--relating to devolution--within the next couple of weeks.