MSPs take evidence on childcare from Auditor General Caroline Gardner and Childcare Minister Maree Todd.
The lunchtime's member's debate marks UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Social security, communities and equalities ministers are quizzed during portfolio questions
MSPs debate the EU Continuity Bill for the final time
Amendment 39 from Labour MSP Claudia Beamish is passed unanimously, meaning the Bill includes general principles on the environment and welfare.
Amendments 2, 3, 4, 41 and 42 to section 14 of the Bill are agreed.
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Image source, bbcBrexit Minister Mike Russell
Brexit Minister Mike Russell says he is pleased to back the amendments from Claudia Beamish and Mark Ruskell.
Mr Russell insists the Scottish government is doing everything in its powers to maintain, protect and enhance Scotland's environment.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie says environmental policy is one of the areas the EU has been good at.
He welcomes cross-party work on these amendments.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Maurice Golden
Tory MSP Maurice Golden speaks against the amendments saying they are bad law, badly constructed and are thus in keeping with the rest of this Bill.
Somewhat bizarrely he then says his party will support them!
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Colin Smyth
Labour MSP Colin Smyth says it is vital the sentience of animals is protected.
Mr Smyth calls on MSPs to back amendment 39 to ensure this happens.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell
Green MSP Mark Ruskell speaks to his amendment 56.
There are no wrecking amendments in this grouping, only amendments that will stop our environment being wrecked, he argues.
It is vital we see animals as sentient beings, the Green MSP states.
Mr Ruskell also says it is important to have an independent body which can hold government bodies to account.
Amendment 39 by Claudia Beamish MSP, supported by Colin Smyth MSP and amendment 56 by Mark Ruskell MSP are expected to be passed by the Scottish Parliament when the vote on the Scottish Continuity Bill takes place later today, on the afternoon of 21 March .
Image source, Scottish Environment LinkScottish Environment Link
Speaking on behalf of the 18 organisations that have welcomed the vote in Scotland, Charles Dundas, Chair of Scottish Environment LINK and Public Affairs Manager at the Woodland Trust Scotland said:
“With today’s vote, the Scottish Parliament has made it clear that it will not accept any loss of environmental standards in Scotland as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Important environmental principles, like the ‘precautionary principle’ or ‘polluter pays’, have for years underpinned EU environmental policy and legislation, helping to protect Scotland’s environment. This vote means that this will continue to be the case, whatever Scotland’s future relationship with its European neighbours is."
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish opens debate on group 7 on 'guiding principles on environmental and animal welfare matters'.
She explains her amendment 39 seeks to ensure the EU guiding principles are taken into Scots law and therefore explicitly lists these five principles.
It is fundamental the EU treaties on the environment are enshrined in Scots law she says.
Image source, Scottish parliamentLib Dem MSP Tavish Scott moves amendment 37 denying it gives a veto to the three other nations in the UK.
59 MSPs back it but 69 vote against.
His colleague Mike Rumbles does not move his amendment 1 calling for the removal of the entire section 13.
SNP MSP Ash Dehnam sees her amendment unaniously passed.
Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie agrees the powers in section 13 are extrmely signficant and should trouble us all, including ministers.
Mr Harvie says it would not be manageable to remove section 13 completely.
"I think we have the balance about right for a deeply imperfect and wrong situation."
Labour MSP Neil Findlay says section 13 has been one of the most problematic in this Bill.
Mr Findlay says he would have preferred to see the whole section removed.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby welcomes that fact the minister has accepted the need for scrutiny and restraint on section 13 powers.
He welcomes amendment 38 on reporting of the use of powers, as well as amendments 37 and 41.
Mr Bibby says he would still prefer section 13 to be not included in the Bill at all.
Labour will back all amendments in this group, he confirms.
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Brexit Minister Mike Russell says the power in section 13 is necessary to smooth the transition and says he will not back Mr Rumbles's amendment to remove it.
Mr Russell says the section relates to the keeping pace power that is appropriate, proportionate and flexible.
He says the government has always said this power should be sunsetted.
Image source, bbcBrexit Minister Mike Russell
Mr Russell highlights the powers initially last for three years, with two further annual renewals there after and can last no longer than five years.
He says the parliament will be given a positive vote on any proposal to use the power, if his amendment and Mike Rumbles's amendments are passed.
Mr Russell rejects Tavish Scott's amendments as he does not want to give the other UK nations an effective veto.
Image source, SPSNP MSP Ash Dehham says her amendment ensures enhanced scrutiny.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Ash Dehham
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says amendments 2 and 4 "tidy up the wording", while amendment 3 will be pre-empted by a later amendment from the minister.
His amendment 1 seeks to remove section 13 entirely, the same as an amendment from Labour MSP Neil Findlay at stage 2.
He says it is important to show how strong the powers are in this section.
Image source, bbcLib Dem MSP Tavish Scott
We now move to the group 6 relating to Power to make provision corresponding to EU law after exit day.
Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott speaks to his amendment 37 and calls for all the UK nations to cooperate.
Mr Scott says it means that if three of the administrations were opposed to a Scottish government regulation, it could not go ahead and primary legislation would be required.
He says his amendment is a "federal idea of cooperation".
The Lib Dem MSP calls on parliament to lock the controversial section 13 in affirmative process.
Image source, Getty ImagesWith Labour and Plaid Cymru support the bill is expected to be backed by the assembly
A Bill to prevent what Welsh ministers call a Whitehall "power-grab" is expected to be passed by AMs later.
The Continuity Bill would bring powers over devolved matters currently wielded at EU level to Cardiff Bay.
The draft legislation is being fast-tracked amid a row between Welsh Labour and UK Conservative ministers over the UK government's Brexit Bill.
UK ministers have said they intend to keep alimited number of powersin devolved areas temporarily.
Labour's amendments 26, 27, 28 and 29 are not agreed.
Amendments 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 are all agreed unanimously.