Scottish Lib Dem Willie Rennie asks who will make the final decision on funding, the central belt or the south of Scotland.

Mr Brown says: "It will come forward from the partnership."

He says when the agency is formed it will make the decision.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Andy Wightman says the establishment of the agency was a Green manifesto commitment also and welcomes it.

Mr Wightman asks how the economy secretary will fulfil his pledge to listen to young people.

Mr Brown says that will happen through the consultation.

He jokes that it is good to see that if you want to deliver things in other party's manifestos vote SNP.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Colin Smyth very much welcomes the proposal to create a south of Scotland economic agency.

Mr Smyth says there frustrations with the timetable for its implementation.

He asks who will decide how by whom the £10m will be allocated.

Mr Brown says: "Of course we would like to do this quickly."

The economy secretary says he is willing to listen to suggestions going forward.

Image source, Getty images

The membership of a new South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SOSEP) has been revealed.

Backed by a £10m Scottish government investment, it will pave the way for a dedicated enterprise agency for Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said the partnership would deliver a "new approach to economic growth".

It includes a "range of key people with business, education, public sector and third sector experience".

Last year it was announced Prof Russel Griggs would chair the group with Rob Dickson of Scottish Borders Council as lead officer.

Read more here.

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart welcomes the plans to establish the agency, noting it was initially a Scottish Conservative policy.

The member notes productivity has been in decline and asks what will be done to address this.

What additional budget will be available for the enterprise agency once it is established, Mr Lockhart also asks.

The cabinet secretary points to efforts to boost productivity across Scotland, saying he has discussed this on several occasions.

The allocation of the agency will be for future budgets, he says.

Image source, Scottish goverment

The consultation on the new south of Scotland enterpise agency has opened today, closing on 7 June.

It asks respondents to consider:

• What they want for the south
• Ambitions for the enterprise agency
• The economy context
• Potential activities for the agency
• Boundaries and location

Image source, bbc

Mr Brown says the south of Scotland partnership will allow a new approach and help pave the way for the new agency.

The economy secretaray says £10m in additonal resources have been allcoated to the parnership.

He calls for wide participation in the consultation process.

Image source, Getty Images

Last January we reported a council was being urged to strongly support a "once in a generation" chance to boost the south of Scotland economy.

The Scottish government announced plans to create a new enterprise agency for the area earlier this year.

It will become fully operational in 2020.

A report to Scottish Borders Council advised its executive committee to recognise the "positive potential" the move has for the region.

It said the project could improve the level of investment in economic growth, enterprise, skills and innovation across the south of Scotland.

The new agency will cover both the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

Read more here.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown begins by extolling the value of the south Scotland economy but recognises economic challenges faces the region.

This includes fewer business start-ups, higher numbers of young people leaving and lower spend on research and development, the cabinet secretary says.

Today, the Scottish government launches its consultation on the south of Scotland enterprise agency, external, Mr Brown announces.

This will run for three months until 7 June.

He labels it a "milestone moment" on the future of the region.

We hope to have the new body up and running by April 2020, the cabinet secretary says.

Image source, Kite Power Solutions

Last June we reported that a new enterprise agency was to be created to "meet the economic needs of communities" in the south of Scotland.

The move is part of the final report from the Scottish government's enterprise and skills review containing a range of measures to help business.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said it showed how to "transform the performance" of the economy.

He said it recognised the need for dedicated support to southern Scotland as already offered in the Highlands.

Mr Brown launched the report while meeting Dumfries and Galloway business Kite Power Systems.

The company had secured £7m of equity funding for its innovative approach to harnessing wind energy.

He said the report contained measures to "enable more businesses to deliver strong, vibrant and inclusive growth at scale".

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government will now give a statement updating parliament on the South of Scotland Partnership.

The Scottish government will give a statement updating parliament on the South of Scotland Partnership.

Image source, PA/Getty Images

MSPs will then debate Labour MSP James Kelly’s Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill, before almost certainly defeating the government and passing it at decision time.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says there are many opportunities in driverless vehicles, with the main benefits being a possible reduction in road deaths and increased freedom to travel.

Autonomous vehicles can bring wider economic benefits, with research indicating 320,000 new jobs could be created, the minister notes.

The Scottish government is "very much open" to trials, Mr Yousaf says, with a demonstration summit to be held this year.

Efforts to bring forward intelligent infrastructure are being made, he states.

The minister also notes the Scottish Law Commission is currently considering a package of reforms to update driving law in advance of driverless vehicles, with a report to be published in 2021.

Image source, AFP

MSPs are participating in a debate entitled'Driverless Cars Bringing Transformative Change to Scotland'.

SNP MSP Ivan McKee uses his motion to says driverless cars will be on the roads in the UK in 2021 and will be commonplace in Scotland by 2030.

He says this will have significant and fundamental implications for society, the economy, jobs, transport policy, environment and energy policy, space planning, safety and privacy.

The SNP MSP calls on steps to be taken now to explore all of the opportunities and challenges that these developments will bring.

Image source, Cora

Labour MSP Alex Rowley mentions the self-flying air taxi, just when I was getting over my fear of the driverless car!

A firm funded by Google founder Larry Page has unveiled an electric, self-flying air taxi that can travel at up to 180 km/h (110mph).

It can do 100 km on a single charge, and it takes off and lands vertically.

It will eventually be available to customers as a service "similar to an airline or a rideshare" said parent company Kitty Hawk on the Cora website.

It operates using "self-flying software combined with human oversight", it added.

The aircraft has been developed in New Zealand, where the government said it welcomed the project because of its environmental credentials.

"We've got ambitious goals here in New Zealand, we want to get to net zero emissions by 2050 and that includes mobility," said Dr Megan Woods, minister for research, science and innovation,in a promotional video for the aircraft, external.

The firm said it is now working "constructively" with aviation regulatory authorities but declined to put a date on when Cora might start work.

Read more.