Fuel poverty has fallen by nearly 100,000 households in a year, according to the home conditions survey in December.

The Scottish government figures show that in 2016, 649,000 households had to spend more than 10% of income on fuel to warm the home.

According to statisticians, two thirds of the change was explained by falling energy prices, and one third by improved energy efficiency.

Very little of the change was explained by rising income.

On energy efficiency, the 2016 survey showed "strong improvement" in Scotland's housing stock.

The share of the most energy efficient homes increased from 24% in 2010 to 43% last year.

In the same period, the proportion of properties in the lowest bands almost halved, from 27% to 14%.

Read more here.

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Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse opens the debate on an Energy Efficient Scotland.

Mr Wheelhouse argues this is a good time for this debate.

It is essential to address energy efficiency to address fuel poverty, he points out.

The minister adds that buildings account for almost 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Image source, Scottish government

Tackling fuel poverty and reducing emissions are the two key objectives of the Scottish government's energy efficiency plans.

The Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map, published at the start of this month, sets out an ambition to ensure all homes achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rate of C or above by 2040.

In doing so, the Scottish government hopes this will remove poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.

The strategy also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential and service sectors by 23% and 59% respectively between 2015 and 2032.

Read the route map here., external

Image source, PA

The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to a Scottish government-led debate on its recent publication, A Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland.

No lunch for us today!

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That concludes the Europe Committee evidence session with Scottish Secretary David Mundell and UK Brexit Minister Robin Walker.

Green MSP Ross Greer request's Mr Mundell's preference on customs options.

Mr Mundell declines to answer, saying he is considering all the options.

Mr Greer asks what information is missing to prevent the minister from reaching a decision.

I do not feel it is appropriate for cabinet ministers to rehearse their decisions in public, the Scottish secretary replies.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead asks for the minister's view on the best customs arrangement for Scotland.

As frictionless as possible with minimum tariff, responds Mr Mundell.

Kevin Keane
BBC Scotland News

The UK government would retain a veto over Scotland in international fisheries negotiations, according to a draft white paper seen by BBC Scotland.

Image source, Getty Images

The paper, which is still to be finalised, sets out a framework for quota talks where devolved institutions would be consulted on the UK government's negotiating position.

It said there would be a "duty of cooperation" within the delegation and that "wherever possible consensus will be sought on negotiating priorities".

However, it admits that the secretary of state would have the power to make a final decision if there is a disagreement within the delegation.

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Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said decisions which affect the regulation of Scottish waters should continue to be made in Scotland.

Fisheries management is one of the 24 powers over which UK ministers want to temporarily retain power.

Read more.

SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon pivots to the settled status of EU citizens.

Do you believe the Home Office has the capacity to deal with applications from the three million citizens living here, she asks.

Brexit Minister Robin Walker says he has been working very closely with the Home Office on this and various events with citizens have been held.

He accepts that some schemes in the past have been designed to catch people out so they cannot stay, referring to Windrush.

This scheme is being designed in the opposite way, he explains.

Mr Walker expresses confidence that the new scheme will be an improvement on the current system.

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SNP MSP Stuart McMillan begins by pointing out devolution has been here for 19 years and he thanks Mr Walker for saying he is pushing Whitehall departments in this area.

The UK Brexit minister concurs with Mr McMillan's subsequent plea for certainty.

Mr McMillan argues that the huge uncertainty will threaten jobs, as will the intransigent position of the UK.

Mr Walker denies there is an intransigent position being adopted by the UK government.

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Green MSP Ross Greer asks again when the cabinet decision on the custom will be made and asks if there is a deadline.

Mr Mundell answers that the cabinet agrees there needs to be a decision in early course.

The decision must be right, he adds.

Will it be made before the June council meeting, probes Mr Greer.

"I hope that will be the case," replies the Scottish Secretary.

Image source, Reuters

Boris Johnson has described one of No 10's proposals for a post-Brexit customs arrangement as "crazy".

A "customs partnership", thought to be favoured by the PM, would involve the UK collecting import tariffs on behalf of the EU, Mr Johnson said.

In a Daily Mail interview, external, the foreign secretary said it would limit the UK's ability to do post-Brexit trade deals.

No 10 said the idea was still on the table after ministers failed to agree a customs plan last week.

It also disputed the suggestion the UK would be collecting tariffs "on behalf of the EU" - saying that the money collected would stay in the UK although there would be an annual assessment of what the UK needed to pay the EU for tariffs collected on goods which had later moved on to the EU.

The newspaper quotes the foreign secretary as saying a customs partnership would create "a whole new web of bureaucracy".

"If you have a new customs partnership, you have a crazy system whereby you end up collecting tariffs on behalf of the EU at the UK frontier," he said.

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Convener Joan McAlpine says maybe I misunderstood you but you seem to be saying you will impose the agreement you made with the Welsh government on the Scottish parliament.

"No, I did not say that," Mr Mundell replies.

Green MSP Ross Greer turns conversation to customs options.

Brexit Minister Robin Walker says it is important to get frictionless access for goods and the current cabinet disagreements are concerned with the mechanism for this.

There will be a collective cabinet decision on this issue, he confirms

When, presses Mr Greer.

As soon as possible, he is told.

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw seeks comments on the arrangements in Clause 11.

The Scottish secretary says the UK government has moved significantly to try find a solution.

It is not a threat to the existing devolution settlement, he insists.

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Mr Mundell points out that the last JMC-EN was constructive and cordial and insists there has been a maturing in the process.

Relationships between the two governments were more difficult in 2014, than they are at the moment he argues.

UK Brexit Minister Robin Walker insists devolution is in his and his colleagues DNA.

Mr Walker concedes other Whitehall departments will need challenged on this issue.

Labour MSP Claire Baker asks whether the UK government understands the Scottish government and parliament's difficulty with the Bill.

Mr Mundell says it is a "pinhead constitutional argument".

He says the current issue is around formal processes, with the 24 areas which may require a UK framework already agreed.

The Scottish secretary argues clause 11 has already undergone a fundamental change.

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Holyrood's Finance and Constitution Committee has recommended that the parliament does not consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill unless a political solution can be found.

In its report published earlier today, the committee has called for reciprocal political commitments to ensure parity between the UK and Scottish governments.

The report also calls for the removal of Clause 11 and Schedule 3 of the Bill.

The three Scottish Conservative members of the committee dissented from its recommendations on reciprocal commitments and Clause 11.

Read the full report here. , external

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Committee convener Joan McAlpine begins by asking if the UK government would proceed with the EU Withdrawal Bill without Holyrood's consent.

The SNP MSP says the Finance and Constitution Committee has just recommended not recommending consent.

Mr Mundell replies that the decision about legislative consent for the EU Withdrawal Bill is for Holyrood.

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The Scottish Secretary reiterates his desire for an agreement to be reached before Tuesday.

Ms McAlpine points out the lack of time before next Tuesday.

Mr Mundell accepts: "We are very much up against the wire."

The convener asks if the Bill will be imposed on the parliament if consent is withheld.

The Scottish Secretary again points out he wants to attain consent.