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Tory MSP Adam Tomkins speaks to his amendment 175 which he says will improve pariamentary oversight.

His colleague Jamie Greene speaks to his amendments, one of which introduces committees to the scrutiny of regulations process.

Labour MSP James Kelly says his amendment aims to introduce affirmative procedures to enahance scrutiny.

Brexit Minister Mike Russell speaks against some amendments but says he will back others.

He says the amdnments from James Kelly and Jackson Carlaw make the Bill unworkable.

However an amendment from Jamie Greene receive the minsterial seal of approval.

Image source, bbc

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Bruce Crawford gets us underway and wishes Emma Harper a happy birthday.

"Its a heck of a way to spend your birthday."

Quite.

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MSPs have agreed to rein in powers Scottish ministers would take on as part of the Brexit legislation being considered at Holyrood.

A Scottish bill has been tabled as an alternative to the Westminster EU Withdrawal Bill, amid an ongoing row over post-Brexit powers.

More than 230 possible amendments to the bill are being considered by MSPs.

Many have been rejected, but more than 20 have been voted through in a bid to strengthen the legislation.

Read more here.

Will Scotland's EU Continuity Bill ultimately be necessary? We're going to plough on with our coverage of Stage 2 considertions regardless!

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MSPs will debate and vote on the final 76 amendments to the EU Continuity Bill, which gets underway in the chamber at 6.30pm.

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart begins by stating it is not appropriate for ministers to comment on the merits of any application.

He will instead seek to respond to the broader points made throughout the debate.

We need to consumer less, reuse more, repair more and recycle more, the minister says.

This is why the waste hierarchy is at the heart of the Scottish government's waste policy, explains Mr Stewart.

He confirms 26 councils have signed up to the household recycling charter.

In January 2021 there will be a statutory ban on biodegradable waste going to landfill and instead will go towards energy-from-waste facilities, states the minister.

Before this, we need extra capacity he says, but this does "not necessarily mean" more incinerators.

The minister argues the Planning (Scotland) Bill will provide communities with more opportunities to engage in process and therefore reduce opposition at the end of the process.

The local government and communities committee is is currently considering the Planning (Scotland) Bill, external at stage one.

The bill seeks to update the town planning system by:

• update the national planning framework to include the Scottish Planning Policy
• ensuring local development plans are better aligned with community planning objectives
• abolishing strategic development plans
• introducing local place plans which are created in consultation with community councils
• improving delveoplment mangement
• improving the performance of planning authorities

Read about the Bill in more detail in the SPICe briefing. , external

Green MSP Mark Ruskell speaks about plans for an incinerator in Kinglassie, which he says locals only found out about just weeks before Fife Council was due to consider it.

"There has been no honest or open discussion about the need for an incinerator."

Developers are relying on loopholes in planning policy when it comes the planning authorities making decisions.

If planning policy is to be "truly effective", it must be evidence-led and free from loopholes.

Image source, Scottish government

The Scottish Planning Policy, external dedicates a section to planning for zero waste and urges planning authorities to collaborate with SEPA to achieve zero waste objectives.

It recommends planning authorities consider buffer zones between dwellings and waste management facilities.

On energy from waste facilities specifically, it says: "Any sites identified specifically for energy from waste facilities should enable links to be made to potential users of renewable heat and energy. Such schemes are particularly suitable in locations where there are premises nearby with a long-term demand for heat."

Tory MSP Maurice Golden says it is better to landfill rather than incinerate because there is the potential to reuse landfilled items in the future.

He also states that efforts must first be made to reduce waste, reuse it and recycle before even coming to the decision of whether to landfill or incinerate.

Mr Golden calls for a moratorium on any new incineration facilities.

If local authorities "really want to burn stuff", they can export it to elsewhere in Europe where they have capacity he argues.

"I hope the government will properly look at ending these incinerators once and for all."

The Scottish government's Zero Waste Plan, external was published in 2013.

Image source, Scottish government

It says: "This vision describes a Scotland where resource use is minimised, valuable resources are not disposed of in landfills, and most waste is sorted into separate streams for reprocessing, leaving only limited amounts of waste to go to residual waste treatment, including energy from waste facilities."

The plan also estimates energy from waste could contribute to 31% of Scotland's renewable heat target and 4.3% of the renewable electricity target.

It adds: "For energy from waste to be truly sustainable it should only be used for resource streams which cannot practicably offer greater environmental and economic benefits through reuse or recycling."

SNP MSP Richard Lyle pays tribute to campaigns fighting against the Whitehill incinerator proposals.

"It is too near Whitehill and has to be opposed."

He urges the minister to "exercise his pen".

Labour MSP Monica Lennon says planning decisions can "make or break a community".

These decisions must therefore support the health and wellbeing of communities and future generations, she says.

Communities should be involved in planning decisions but in too many instances, this is not the case argues Ms Lennon.

The Labour MSP speaks about plans for a Whitehill incinerator, which local residents opposed and yet a new proposal has been lodged.

She says the original approved proposal and the new one breaches the Scottish Planning Policy, adding this "makes a mockery" of the system.

"The government must be clearer with communities on the health risks of incinerators," Ms Lennon argues.

The decision to allow the Whitehill incinerator came down to prioritising national need over local health concerns, she argues.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon opens a debate on incinerators, public health and planning.

Her motion:

• highlights common opposition to incinerators and energy from waste facilities because of public health and safety concerns
• calls for increased community engagement in the planning process
• urges ministers to update parliament on the latest public health information on incinerator and energy from waste technologies

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Labour's motion, as amended, is then not agreed with 36 voting for and 87 voting against.

MSPs reject the Scottish goverment's amendment, with 61 voting for and 63 voting against.

The Scottish Conservatives amendment is agreed, with 90 voting in support and 33 against.

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