Green MSP John Finnie welcomes the announcement.

During the period, the specialist demonstration squad was in action, the Green MSP highlights.

He asks whether the minister will ask for support from the Pitchford inquiry to help the review.

The justice secretary says the Pitchford Inquiry should be extended to Scotland.

In terms of this review, he confirms that if, after the six monthly report is becomes clear greater cooperation will be required, he will write to the UK government to request this.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay welcomes the minister's statement.

Following three decades of campaigning, we now have an independent review - the first step I hope to a full UK inquiry, Mr Findlay states.

"I hope this reverberates all the way to Number 10 Downing St."

The Labour MSP says many miners lost their jobs and their homes, many were blacklisted and many went to their graves as victims of a miscarriage of justice.

The cabinet secretary recognises the members long-standing interest in this issue.

He hopes many people will engage with the process and he offers assurances that the review will be thorough and inclusive.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr tells the chamber it is always important that we seek to learn the lessons of the past.

Mr Kerr asks for clear detail for the selection criteria for the panel.

He calls for reassurances for police officers who may be concerned about the review.

Mr Matheson explains the panel members bring legal, policing and mining expertise to bear.

The justice secretary says the advisory panel working with John Scott strikes the right balance.

He states: "This is not a vendetta against the police."

Mr Matheson says he has written to the home secretary calling on the UK government to do more on this matter.

Nicky Wilson, President of the National Union of Mineworkers, welcomed this approach today, the minister confirms.

Mr Matheson says: "My expectation is that the process and outcome of this review will help to bring a degree of closure – crucially, of a positive kind, through openness, disclosure and understanding."

The cabinet secretary confirms he has written to the home secretary to renew calls for it to establish in inquiry.

Concluding, he tells the chamber: "Some of our communities have been blighted by the shadow of that time for too long.

"I hope that members will join with me in both encouraging those affected to engage with the review, and in welcoming the work of John Scott and the advisory panel as an opportunity to acknowledge those difficult times and truly learn from them."

Image source, Daily Record

Mr Matheson says: "I have concluded that doing nothing is not an option."

The justice secretary announces that John Scott QC has agreed to undertake an independent review of this matter

The remit will be: "to investigate and report on the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during the period of the miners’ strike from March 1984- March 1985."

John Scott will be assisted by an advisory panel comprising fromer SNP MSP Dennis Canavan; former Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson; and Professor Jim Murdoch of Glasgow University. This grouping will bring real authority and a balanced insight into the issues raised.

Mr Matheson says: "A final report, setting out lessons learnt and making recommendations for any other action required, will follow by June 2019 and be made publically available."

Mr Matheson says the questions of aiding "understanding, reconciliation and inclusion" remain.

He criticises the UK government's decision to rule out an inquiry into events Orgreave Coking plant in South Yorkshire during the strike.

The justice secretary says was was sympathetic to having an inquiry into Scotland specifically, but he adds: "A key issue is what kind of review is possible and crucially what value it might add".

He notes that the criminal justice system can deal with alleged miscarriages of justice, but wrongful conviction is "just one form of injustice".

Mr Matheson tells the chamber: "The question is how might we better-address wider but equally distressing forms."

Image source, bbc

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson announces plans to initiate an independent review of the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during the miners’ strike.

Mr Matheson tells the chamber the 1980s represented an extremely difficult time for many communities throughout Scotland, mining communities in particular.

The scars from the experience still run deep, he says.

Image source, Stuart Eason

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson will now deliver a statement to parliament on the impact of policing on communities during the miners’ strike.

After lunch, there will be a government statement on the impact of policing on communities during the miners’ strike.

MSPs will then debate last week’s Bracadale review on hate crime legislation.

Image source, Getty Images

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse acknowledges there are developers not following best practice and these issue will be looked at during the review.

Mr Wheelhouse explains the policy has kicked in since 2016 and most projects reflect the good practice guidance since then.

He says he wants to ensure onshore wind projects continue to provide community benefit.

The energy minister calls on the UK government to provide a price stabalisation mechanism that provides a route to market.

There is a target that by 2020 at least half of renewable projects will have shared ownership, elucidates Mr Wheelhouse.

He says community benefit has created a more positive feel around renewable projects.

Image source, bbc

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse tells the chamber he is pleased that broadly there is agreement that communities should share in the rewards from local energy resources.

Mr Wheelhouse explains the Scottish government has no direct powers to oblige developers to reward communities.

He says community benefits payments support a number of projects.

The minister states these payments will typically continue for each year of the projects lifetime.

Image source, PA

What would be the UK's tallest onshore wind turbines have been suggested as an option for a wind farm on Lewis.

Lewis Wind Power is considering turbines with heights of up to 200m (656ft) at a site at Uisinis.

It is also in the early stages of looking at the potential for turbines of up to 187m (614ft) at a site near Stornoway.

The company said any change to the schemes would require new planning consents and public consultations.

Read more here.

Image source, bc

Green MSP Mark Ruskell pays tribute to the Scottish government for sensible decisions on onshore wind farms.

Mr Ruskell says there is an opportunity to see that communities get more of the benefits and share in the financial reward.

"They may be crumbs of the table but they are not compensation," he says.

"Planning decisions should be made on the merit of the development."

The best way forward would be for communities to own the land or to at least have a stake in projects so they don't just get the crumbs of the table, but they get the cake and indeed the bakery as well says Mr Ruskell.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay tells the chamber he has seven or eight wind farms within three miles of his house.

The onshore wind sector is one of the biggest missed opportunities we have seen for decades, he argues

Mr Findlay says community benefit schemes are a drop in the ocean compared to the profits generated.

We should have public bodies owning and developing onshore wind, the MSP argues.

If communities were in control, there will be less resistance to wind energy projects he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett says it is great to see renewables up and communities benefiting from this.

Mr Burnett points out his party supports onshore wind farms where they are appropriate.

The Tory MSP insists decisions on wind farms should not be overturned by the Scottish government.

He agrees there is a very inconsistent picture on community benefit across the country.