Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has rejected the UK government's latest proposal in a row over who should exercise certain powers after Brexit.

Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said the "vast majority" of returning EU powers will start in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

He said Westminster would only be involved where a "pause" was needed to draw up a UK-wide framework.

But Ms Sturgeon said this would still restrict the devolved administrations.

It amounts to a veto over how the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies can exercise their powers, she told the BBC.

Ms Sturgeon said her government had always accepted there were issues where it makes sense to have common standards and regulations in all parts of the UK.

But she said the UK government proposals meant Holyrood would have no say over any attempt by Westminster to lower environmental standards in Scotland - despite the powers being devolved.

Read more here.

Convener Graeme Dey asks about the policy areas the UK government says are reserved.

Brexit Minister Michael Russell says there has been some disagreement over this.

The decision by the UK government that state aid, timber trade rules and protected food names should be reserved will be contested, the minister confirms.

"We don't accept this", he says, adding the list produced must be discussed again as there has thus far been no formal discussion on it.

The UK government has named 24 devolved areas, external where it wants to temporarily retain power following Brexit.

The Scottish government has accused the UK government of a power grab and has introduced its own Brexit legislation.

Ministers at Westminster insist that "the vast majority of powers returning from Brussels will start off in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast".

Image source, Getty Images

The 24 areas include:

• Environmental quality, chemicals- Regulation of the manufacture, authorisation and sale and use of chemical products.
• Environmental quality, ozone depleting, substances and F-gases- The UK has international obligations under the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of ODS, phase down hydrofluorocarbons by 85% by 2036, licence imports and exports and report on usage to the UN.
• Environmental quality, waste packaging and product regulations- Product standards including for packaging (e.g. ROHS in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Batteries and Vehicles) in order to manage waste.
• Implementation of EU Emissions Trading System- This directive area establishes the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme for greenhouse gas. The Scheme sets a maximum amount of greenhouse gas that can be emitted by all participating installations and aircrafts; these operators then monitor, verify and report their emissions, and must surrender allowances equivalent to their emissions annually.

Read more here.

The committee is taking evidence on the environmental implications for Scotland of the UK leaving the EU from:

• Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
• Brexit Minister Michael Russell
• Kate Thomson-McDermott from the Scottish government's environment and agriculture strategy unit
• Euan Page, constitution and UK relations policy officer with the Scottish government
• Julie Steel from the Scottish government's energy and climate change strategy unit

Image source, PA/SPL/BBC

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee are this morning taking evidence from Scottish Ministers on the environmental impact of Brexit.

• View the committee papers here. , external
• Submissions to and correspondence with the committee are available here. , external

Image source, Thinkstock

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Brexit Minister Michael Russell appear before the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee to discuss the environmental impacts of Brexit.

Image source, Reuters

After a topical question on water contamination at the Royal Hospital for Children, MSPs will debate the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. Decision time will take place at the later time of 6.15pm.

Concluding the day will be Tory MSP Peter Chapman leading a debate on Holodomor Remembrance Day.