Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says the high turnover of leadership in integrated joint boards is of "grave concern".

He also says there is a lack of long-term financial planning, data sharing and collaboration.

Mr Rennie insists continuity in leadership is needed and points to specific concerns in Fife.

The shortage of workers and the possible exacerbation of this because of Brexit is highlighted by the Lib Dem MSP.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says no discussion of care should fail to recognise the incredible contribution unpaid care workers make.

Ms Johnstone calls for more generous Scottish carers assistance.

The Green MSP reiterates that all social care workers are not getting the living wage and calls for a £10 per hour wage for all workers in the sector.

She calls on Labour to join the calls for a "People's Vote" due to the damage Brexit is doing to the sector.

Ms Johnstone tells the chamber her party will support the Labour motion.

Nick Eardley
BBC Scotland Westminster correspondent

All thirteen Scottish Tory MPs - including the Scottish Secretary David Mundell - have said they won’t support a Brexit deal that prevents the UK independently negotiating access to waters and quota shares

In a letter to the prime minister, they say access and quotas “cannot be included in the Future Economic Partnership”.

They add the UK must leave the Common Fisheries Policy at the end of 2020.

In the letter, they say the UK must be able to negotiate as an independent coastal state from then, adding: “You said in your conference speech that anything less would be a ‘betrayal of Scotland’ and we completely agree”

Mr Mundell and Ruth Davidson have also previously raised concerns about any deal which would see different arrangements for Northern Ireland.

A source said they were waiting to see details.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says there is a real need for joint working between housing associations and health services.

He says the delayed discharge crisis is particularly acute in his region, the Lothians.

Not a day goes by where I don't receive correspondence from families concerned about a breakdown in social care, he tells the chamber.

Mr Briggs points to further concerns about the lack of leadership in integrated joint boards.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, Getty Images

Councils have called for a 2.5% increase in local government funding in the upcoming Scottish Budget.

Council umbrella body Cosla argues that they have "no options left" for savings.

It also wants the 3% cap on council tax increases to be scrapped and says councils should be given the right to introduce levies such as tourist taxes.

The Scottish government said local government had been treated "very fairly".

Read more here.

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Ms Freeman says there is a problem between the government and COSLA to see why funding is not being passed on to social care staff.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith intervenes highlighting the Enable Scotland briefing which says they are having to use reserves to pay staff or tell them they are unable to pay the living wage for every hour worked.

The health secretary tells the chamber she will meet with Enable Scotland and Sense Scotland later and says this is in the nature of the contract with the local authority and it must be taken up with them.

If Labour want the government to take responsibility for the contracts, Ms Freeman wonders if they've talked to COSLA about this.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman accepts improvements need to be made in social care - but adds that does not come from government alone.

Services need to change as we enjoy longer lives with more complex needs, she says.

Integration is not an end in and of itself Ms Freeman says, adding that the system as a whole must be looked at.

She points to £550m investment for frontline health and social care.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, bbc

Mr Rowley says three in four social care workers expected the situation to get worse in the coming years, highlighting issues like zero hours contracts and lack of reimbursement for travel between clients.

He says 15% of social care workers are in in-work poverty according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The Labour MSP adds there needs to be a significant shift in thinking, from where we are now, to make the radical transformation in social care that is needed.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley highlights figures indicating four in ten people who were ready to leave hospital were unable to do so.

Health and social care must be adequately fundined for every older person who needs it, he says.

Shifting the balance of care, from acute to community, is a challenge and not enough funding is going into it, the Labour MSP argues.

He suggests there should be more in-house providers of care rather than public money becoming profits for private providers.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Scottish Labour will now debate issues around social care.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham confirms the plant is still under investigation, and updates are available on SEPA's website.

Ms Ewing says a report was expected this month and asks if this is still the case.

The environment secretary says the investigation is at an advanced stage, but SEPA has not committed to publishing a report.

However, information on enforcement actions are available on the website she adds.

HSE will consider what can be made public and when as a result of its work, Ms Cunningham says.

Image source, LYNNE WATSON

The Mossmorran chemical plant in Fife is being investigated following a serious flaring incident.

Bright flames and black smoke were seen coming from the plant's main chimneyduring a seven-day incident last June.

Local residents also complained of extreme noise and vibrationsduring further incidents in October and March 2017 and again in May 2018.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and Health and Safety Executive will carry out the probe.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing asks the Scottish government whether it will provide an update on SEPA's investigation into the Mossmorran petrochemical plant.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon says funding has been committed to Woods In and Around Towns, external, which helps remove access barriers.

Woodland creation is also a focus, she adds, particularly for deprived areas.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith asks the government what action the environmentsecretary is taking to enable people from deprived areas to access woodland areas.

Image source, bbc

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham tells the chamber the first minister hopes to attend the conference, "subject to any parliamentary business and indeed the ongoing mess that is Brexit".

Image source, MARIA ALEJANDRA CARDONA

Back in September UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that if the world doesn't change course by 2020, we run the risk of runaway climate change.

Mr Guterres said he was alarmed by the paralysis of world leaders on what he called the "defining issue" of our time.

He wants heads of government to come to New York for a special climate conference next September.

The call comes amid growing concerns over the slow pace of UN negotiations.

Read more here.