Image source, bbc

That's all from Hoylrood Live on Tuesday 18 December 2018.

Brexit Secretary Mike Russell told MSPs the Scottish government is making "detailed preparations" for the UK leaving the EU without a deal,.

The UK government has "ramped up" planning for a no-deal Brexit, amid a struggle to win MPs over to the divorce plan hammered out with EU negotiators.

Mr Russell said the "disaster" of a no-deal exit was "not yet inevitable", but that preparations must be made now.

Scottish and UK ministers will meet on Wednesday for talks about Brexit.

The Scottish Conservatives said the SNP should support the deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May if they wanted to avoid leaving without a deal.

• Brexit: Cabinet 'ramps up' no-deal planning

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick praises the work of FASS and goes on to highlight organisations across Scotland undertaking similar work.

He points to the recent launch of the alcohol and drug strategy at such a facility in Dundee.

These are really important services and they cannot be underestimated, he adds.

The minister speaks about the complexity of addiction and notes it is often linked to homelessness.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says FASS has provided a Fife wide community based confidential service for families with an individual who has an alcohol problem.

He says the charity is there to lend a helping hand on many levels and has helped 23,000 individuals which is a "huge contribution to the community".

The Tory MSP says its worth mentioning that the exceptional work of FASS has been rewarded by the lottery.

"FASS has been an invaluable resource for Fife."

David Richardson from Glasgow had a good job and a good life before his drink problem took hold.

The 52-year-old explains how alcoholism has affected his life: "I was in the Royal Infirmary for 11 weeks and I was in a bad way because, I don't know if it was that time there or the time previous, with the alcohol I ended up with TB, pneumonia because I had no heating and no food in the house."

However, a wake-up call was to come.

David explains: "I got out of hospital and went back to my brother's, God rest him he has passed away now, and all the family was out and he sat holding my hand and he starts crying and he says 'we lost you there', he said 'you died', he said 'we lost you'.

"So, ever since that day I have never took a drop of alcohol."

Mr Richardson told his story to BBC Scotland's India Grant.

Labour MSP Claire Baker says too often, people struggling with alcohol and drug abuse do not receive much public sympathy leading to isolation.

Service like FASS really supported some of the most vulnerable people, she adds.

Dr Baker highlights it has support 23,000 people, many of whom have poor mental health due to underlying traumas.

The Labour MSP expresses concern about "strained NHS services", adding too often people are reliant on the third sector.

Scotland's first drugs and alcohol strategy for a decade focuses on treating the issue as a public health concern rather than a criminal justice issue.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said he had combined the strategy for drug and alcohol misuse, external because they had many solutions in common.

He said those with drug and drink problems often carried the burden of poverty, trauma and inequality.

The minister said support not stigmatisation was needed.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP David Torrance congratulates FASS for reaching this significant milestone and welcomes staff and volunteers to the gallery.

Mr Torrance says alcohol damage causes a total cost to Fife of £130m per year.

He pays tribute to the late John Balfour who was instrumental in setting up FASS, external.

Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS) was established in 1977 to provide a community-based, alcohol counselling service for individuals, family and friends affected by alcohol problems.

John Balfour’s involvement with FASS continued until his passing in May 2009. He served as Chairman for 25 years until retirement in 2002, and then became Honorary President of the charity.

Image source, Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS)

SNP MSP David Torrance will now lead a debate on the Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS) , externalmarking its 40th year of helping people overcome issues with alcohol.

Since it was founded, 200 counsellors have supported over 23,000 Fifers and their families to help them deal with addiction.

The Fife Community Drug Service merged with FASS in 2015 to help provide outreach support and help for vulnerable people affected by both alcohol and substance misuse problems.

From the FASS website, external:

"Fife Alcohol Support Service is a leading provider of counselling and psychotherapy for people in Fife with alcohol-related problems. We help people deal with addiction, excessive regular drinking and binge drinking."

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs unanimously back the general principles of Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill, external.

This bill makes provision in relation to the assumed rate of return on investment of particular damages awarded in personal injury cases.

It also makes provision in relation to periodical payments of various damages awarded in personal injury cases.

Image source, Getty Images

Those who have suffered the trauma of personal injury should have their compensation calculated in a fair and transparent way, according to MSPs.

The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee carried out an inquiry, external into the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill.

The committee agreed with the principles of the Bill, which would reform the law so that the UK Government actuary would set a discount rate for those receiving compensation.

However, the committee also called for more detail on a commitment to regularly analysing the 30-year assumed period of investment.

It also recommended the discount rate be reviewed every five years, rather than three.

Read the full report here. , external

Image source, Labour MSP Daniel Johnson

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson confirms his party's support for the bill, saying it will provide security to those who have been injured through the actions of others.

On periodical payment orders, Mr Johnson calls for more weight to be given to pursuers views as the bill should empower those seeking compensation.

He says while the bill represents process, it is far from perfect and it most be robustly tested and scrutinised going forward.

It must also protect public bodies from unreasonable costs and liabilities, he adds.

From SPICe:

The law currently enables people who have been injured to receive compensation via regular periodical payments, rather than as a lump sum. This can remove some of the uncertainties associated with calculating a one-off, lump sum award.

At present, the court can only make a compensation award involving periodical payments where the parties involved in the case agree.

Provisions in the Bill would require the court to consider periodical payments in every case involving future financial loss. The court would be able to impose periodical payment, but only where ongoing payment is consideredreasonably secure.

The Bill would also enable a compensation award to be reconsidered by the courts in the event of a specified change to the pursuer's condition.

Read more here. , external

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart says the bill is technical in nature but it is important.

Mr Lockhart says the bill proposes a series of changes to the discount rate to reflect issues like inflation and to reduce the risk of under-compensation.

He tells the chamber there was general consensus about the need to update the system and the need for regular reviews of the discount rate.

Mr Lockhhart welcomes the government's confirmation that it will table an amendment to switch from three year reviews to five years.

The notional portfolio must be updated regularly, he says.

He welcomes the bill as it will provide more clarity.

Image source, PA

From SPICe:

The discount rate is an adjustment made to a lump sum award for future financial loss in personal injury cases.

It accounts for the notional rate of return if the money were invested. It is intended to ensure that the injured person neither benefits nor suffers as a result of receiving the money before the losses it compensates for have occurred.

Previous court judgments state that the discount rate should be calculated on the basis that injured people are not required to take investment risks with their compensation. It is currently set by Scottish ministers, with reference to returns on index-linked gilts, external- a form of UK Government bond.

The bill would reform the law to require the discount rate to be set by the UK Government Actuary, using a methodology set out in legislation. This would consider ahypothetical investor with a mixed investment portfolio. The rate would be reviewed regularly.

Read more here., external

This briefing, from the Scottish Parliament, looks at the proposals in the Damages Bill, as well as providing contextual information about the system for making personal injury claims.

The Damages Bill proposes to

• Reform the way the discount rate is calculated

• Allow the courts to require periodical payments of compensation

Read more here., external

Economy committee convener Gordon Lindhurst begins by joking the stage 1 report on the bill is a "classic of the genre".

More seriously, he tells the chamber that compensation must be calculated in a fair and transparency manner.

The committee recognises these calculations are not an exact science, he says, but there should be a standardised approach which can apply across a range of cases.

Regarding the review period, Mr Lindhurst highlights the 2017 review was the first in 15 years which was not well received.

He says having regular reviews will allow for a rigorous approach and we recommend a five year review cycle.