SNP MSP Gillian Martin asks the Scottish government what issues it expects to be given priority at the UN Climate Change Conference in December.

Mr Ewing says passenger safety is paramount and the Scottish government is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to mitigate negative impacts.

Mr Lyle highlights the role of tourism in the rural economy and asks about the development of other opportunities for the Cairngorms.

The cabinet secretary says HIE is "working flat out" on the issue.

A report on the funicular will be available at the start of December, he adds.

Image source, PA

Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council have offered support to businesses affected by the closure of the Cairngorms' funicular railway.

The UK's highest railway has been closed due to problems with the structure supporting the tracks.

Thousands of visitors to Aviemore, and the surrounding area, use the funicular to reach a mountainside restaurant and snowsports areas.

The support offered includes advice on potential loan funding.

• £27m vision unveiled to 'unleash' potential at Cairngorms
• Mountain railway shut for 'several weeks'

Image source, CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN

SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks what the government is doing to mitigate the potential impact of the closure of the Cairngorm funicular railway on the area's economy.

Image source, bbc

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says the government is in dialogue with the seafood processing industry about the impact of Brexit.

With over 70% of the seafood processing workforce being non-UK EEA citizens, there is every right for the industry to be concerned, he says.

Ms Watt calls for all discussions on the future of the fishing industry and Brexit to be conducted in a way that does not discrimination or stoke xenophobia, having criticised comments she says were made by Tory MSP Peter Chapman.

Sarah Smith
Scotland Editor

Image source, bbc

Fishing communities all around the coast of the UK contain some of the country's most committed Leavers.

Many fishing folk have been opposed to the UK's membership of the EU for decades.

They feel they have always had a raw deal from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) - the agreement which sets the quotas for how much, and what type, of fish each EU nation is allowed to catch.

UK fishermen - from Newlyn in Cornwall to Peterhead in Aberdeenshire - complain bitterly that they are allowed to catch less than 40% of the fish in UK coastal waters.

They compare that to Iceland - which is not in the EU or subject to the CFP.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Maureen Watt asks what discussions the government has had with the fish processing industry in the north east regarding training workers to make best use of exiting the CFP.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says over 13,200 farmers have received this payment as of last week.

Ms Smith seeks assurances that farmers will be supported should this winter bring poor weather conditions.

The cabinet secretary says the support payments scheme will be rolled out as smoothly as possible.

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan asks about the take up among crofters.

Mr Ewing says overall there has been an extremely high take up of the loan.

He says to any farmer or crofter who has not obtained a payment to please do so.

Image source, bbc

Back in August we reported Scottish farmers were being offered government loans to help them recover from months of adverse weather conditions.

The National Basic Payment Support Scheme (NBPSS) is being launched to allow farmers early access to their annual payment from the EU.

The funding usually arrives between December and June but loans will be available from October.

These will offer eligible farmers up to 90% of what they are due.

• Farmers warn of crisis amid 'drought'
• Counting the cost of a stop-start spring
• Heavy snow takes toll on Scotland's lambs
• Read more here

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks the Scottish government how many farmers have received payments under the National Basic Payment Support Scheme since August 2018.

Image source, Getty Images

Check all the questions here., external

But then come back to Holyrood Live from 2pm, when MSPs will quiz rural economy, environment, climate change and land reform ministers during portfolio questions.

Scottish Labour has the floor this afternoon and will begin with a debate on social care.

In their second debate, Labour will call on the government to enforce the ScotRail break clause to bring the current franchise to an end in 2022.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden will use his member’s debate to highlight the IPCC report on climate change calling for a limit in the rise in global temperature to 1.5C.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell attended the launch of a hate crime consultation at the Edinburgh Youth Café (6VT Cafe), external, which is used as a third party reporting centre for hate crime.

The Scottish government is calling on the public to help shape consolidated and modernised hate crime legislation as a new consultation opens today.

‘One Scotland: Hate Has No Home Here’ follows on from Lord Bracadale’s review of existing hate crime legislation in Scotland which included recommendations that additional statutory aggravations should be created for age and gender.

The consultation calls for views on a number of issues including how best to tackle gender based prejudice and misogyny.

The issue of sectarianism will also be considered with the consultation seeking views on how this could be tackled through law based on the findings of the Working Group on Defining Sectarianism in Scots Law.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks if ticket prices could be made more simple.

Mr Hynes repliies the fares and ticketing system is complex across the UK.

He says: "We are investing in smart ticketing."

The ScotRail Alliance MD suggests people should buy their tickets in advance if they can.

Green MSP John Finnie asks about on-train staffing numbers.

Alex Hynes says that on driver-only operation parts of the services - tending to be in Glasgow - ScotRail is trying to provide a ticket inspector is on board the train as well.

We are working really hard to have at least two people on the service and boost visibility of staff on trains across the network, he says.