Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political reporter

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs are set to refuse to give Holyrood's devolved consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill, the main piece of Westminster Brexit legislation.

What is the background to the row, and where might we end up?

Click here for detailed analysis from our politcal reporter Philip Sim.

Image source, bbc

Mr Russell concedes the UK government has made changes, however the newly formulated Clause 11 is still unacceptable.

The minister insists it would break the devolution settlement.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks why the Welsh government was able to accept the changes.

Mr Russell hits back that it may be due to the fact Scotland voted to remain in the EU while Wales did not.

He goes on to argue the EU Withdrawal Bill allows the UK government to proceed with an order, even if the Scottish Parliament has voted against it, will be normal

The Brexit minister highlights the seven year period for which this will be the case.

Mr Russell says the devolved settlement is a risk of a power grab under the "guise" of delivering Brexit.

The minister refers to Scottish Secretary David Mundell suggesting the negotiations are "dancing on the head of a pin", a description which he disagrees with.

The UK government has dismissed this parliament's views of Brexit and the single market, he argues.

Mr Russell says the Scottish parliament "spoke very powerfully" that the EU Withdrawal Bill, as first published, did not respect the devolution settlement.

"Clause 11 was not an accidental clause," he states.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish Parliament is expected to refuse to give its consent to the UK's main piece of Brexit legislation.

The Scottish and UK governments are at odds over the EU Withdrawal Bill and what it could mean for devolved powers.

Labour, Green and Lib Dem MSPs are expected to back SNP members in rejecting the Westminster bill, saying it would restrict Holyrood's powers.

The Scottish Conservatives will vote against, and have blamed the SNP for the failure to find an agreement.

UK and Scottish ministers have said the door is still open to finding a deal, although both sides have admitted they remain some distance apart.

• What if Holyrood rejects the Brexit bill?
• What is the row all about anyway?
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

Brexit Minister Mike Russell begins by quoting Donald Dewar, on the opening of the Scottish Parliament, who said it was "a new stage on a journey begun long ago that has no end."

Mr Russell insists the Scottish Parliament belongs to the Scottish people, who "decide on the journey and end point not us".

He goes on to say devolution has made the system of governance robust enough to survive the global crash and, to resist in part, austerity.

The minister insists this must not be cast aside because of a Brexit Scotland did not vote for and which would be damaging for the country.

Image source, bbc

MSPs will now debate whether to give legislative consent to EU Withdrawal Bill at decision time.

Here is the text of the motion from Brexit minister Mike Russell:

S5M-12223 Michael Russell: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill - UK Legislation - That the Parliament notes the legislative consent memorandums on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill lodged by the Scottish Government on 12 September 2017 and 26 April 2018, and the reports of the Finance and Constitution Committee of 9 January and 10 May 2018, and, because of clause 15 (formerly 11) and schedule 3, which constrain the legislative and executive competence of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, does not consent to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

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Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse begins by pointing out that the Scottish government welcomes the devolution of those powers.

Ms Beamish calls for the initial term of the license Ineos holds over the central belt to end in June.

Mr Wheelhouse replies any request for an extension will be regraded on a case by case business.

The Labour MSP asks, in terms of fracking, if the government has the powers to revoke onshore oil and gas licenses.

Mr Wheelhouse says it does, but does not wish to discuss individual cases.

Petrochemical firm Ineos said it was "astonished" to hear that the Scottish government had not banned fracking.

The statement was made outside the Court of Session where the company has been challenging the moratorium in Scotland on the controversial practice.

Ineos and Reach CSG claim ministers acted illegally in announcing the block in October 2017.

Government lawyers told the court a ban was not in place and that a final position had yet to be adopted.

The Scottish government announced a moratorium - or temporary halt - on fracking in 2015 while it sought the opinions of experts and the public on whether the controversial oil extraction technique should be allowed in Scotland.

After considering the evidence for two years, ministers concluded there was "overwhelming opposition" and announced what was described at the time as an "effective ban", enforced via planning powers. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later told the SNP conference that "fracking is now banned in Scotland".

According to papers lodged at the Court of Session, Ineos argued that the October announcement represented a change of policy by the government.

They want Lord Pentland to declare that the government acted unlawfully by doing so, and also want the court to declare that it is unlawful for ministers to use planning powers to prohibit fracking in Scotland.

• Scotland and fracking: How did we get here?
• UK fracking not viable, claims Edinburgh geologist
• Read more here

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks the Scottish government whether powers devolved to the Parliament over onshore oil and gas licensing under the Scotland Act 2016, which commenced in February, give ministers the authority to take decisions on granting and extending Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses for onshore fracking.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the assessment is a high level picture of organised crime in the UK, with a section by Police Scotland which provides an overview.

The cabinet secretary says a small number of organised crime groups are involved in a feud resulting in gang-related violence.

Police Scotland are taking forward work to deal with these matters, he says, and confirms he receives regular briefings on these operations.

Mr Kerr asks about efforts to get guns off Scotland's streets.

Mr Matheson says a range of organisations come together to tackle serious and organised crime.

He assures members that robust action is being taken.

Image source, Getty Images

"Ongoing feuds, violence and firearms" in the central belt are increasing the threat posed by crime gangs, according to a report.

An assessment of organised crime by the National Crime Agency (NCA), externalhas found the number of criminals involved is falling.

But the threat they present is rising.

The report - written with Police Scotland, external- said 164 known organised crime groups (OCGs) comprising 3,282 members were under investigation.

Read more here.

Image source, National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks the Scottish government what its response is to the National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018, external.

Mr Kenneth Nuttall, a deaf Christian Bible teacher from East Kilbride, is delivery today's time for reflection.

Topical questions this afternoon are on the National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime and fracking.

After that - hold onto your hats because it's crunch time as we'll find out if MSPs will refuse consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Image source, AFP

It is thought the SNP, Labour, Greens and Lib Dems will withhold consent while the Conservatives will support it - Holyrood Live is your first port of call for all the action and analysis.

The day will end with a members' debate led by SNP MSP Sandra White on the 70th anniversary of what Palestinians call the Nakba.

MSPs will be asked to formally refuse to give Holyrood's consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill this evening.

The Scottish and UK governments are at odds over provisions of the Brexit legislation on what happens to devolved powers after the UK leaves the EU.

Scottish ministers have put forward a motion for debate on Tuesday, asking MSPs not to give consent to the bill.

It is expected this will pass, with Scottish Labour and the Greens backing the SNP in opposing parts of the bill.

UK ministers have refused to say if they would go ahead and legislate without Holyrood's consent, saying there is still a chance to come to an agreement.

• 'Door still open' for Brexit powers deal
• Brexit devolved powers row Q&A

Image source, bbc

A long-running series of talks has failed to produce a deal between the two sides, although UK ministers were able to strike an agreement with counterparts in Wales. Welsh parliamentarians will consider a consent motion of their own on Tuesday.

Scottish ministers say they could instead rely on their own alternative Brexit legislation, which was passed by MSPs but has been challenged in the Supreme Courtby UK law officers.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart raises the issue of the role of the enterprise agencies going forward.

Plans to replace Scotland's enterprise and training agencies with one national board were abandoned last year, with the announcement that a national strategic board would be set up, to "align the work" of the agencies.

Professor John Bachtler from University of Strathclyde says we have become to centralised over time.

The academic says policy across the board needs to be more responsive to local development needs.

He tells the committee: "We are failing to exploit the potential of community development."

Linda Stewart agrees and says there is a great opportunity with the new strategic board.

The committee draws to a close.

Image source, bbc

Robin Smail from EU Structural Funds says there are features of the current EU system that we will want to let go of.

In terms of audit, the UK approach will probably be adopted, he argues.

Mr Smail states there could be simplification in the approach taken.