Summary

  • The economy committee takes evidence from Derek Mackay and Jamie Hepburn on the budget

  • MSPs debate ultra low emission vehicles

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gives her reaction to her government admitting acting unlawfully while investigating sexual harassment claims against Alex Salmond

  • A Tory MSP leads a debate in transport infrastructure

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Emma Gordon

  1. And we're off............

    Derek Mackay

    Derek Mackay

    Economy committee convener Gordon Lindhurst welcomes:

    • Finance, Economy and Fair Work Secretary Derek Mackay
    • Business, Fair Work and Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn
    • Gavin Gray and Oonagh Gil from the Scottish government

  2. The economy committee begins shortly............

    The economy committee will shortly take evidence on the Scottish government's budget 2019-20 from:

    • Finance, Economy and Fair Work Secretary Derek Mackay
    • Business, Fair Work and Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn
    • Gavin Gray and Oonagh Gil from the Scottish government
    Finance and Economy Secretary Derek MackayJANE BARLOW/PA

    Finance and Economy Secretary Derek Mackay

    MSPs will then pivot to taking evidence on the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board from:

    • Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board chair Nora Senior

    Finally, they'll consider European Union Structural and Investment Funds (EU Exit) Regulations 2018.

  3. Welcome to Holyrood Live!

    Good morning and a Happy New Year to you all.

    MSPs are back hitting the ground running with budget scrutiny to the fore today and tomorrow.

    Economy Secretary Derek Mackay will give evidence to MSPs shortly on his draft budget.

    Derek Mackaybbc/PA/Getty images

    After topical questions we’ll have the first government debate of the year on ultra low emission vehicles, following its announcement last year of £700,000 for housing associations who want to apply for car clubs of electric vehicles and the more broad announcement of £16.7m from Nicola Sturgeon to transform Scotland into a low carbon country.

    More transport issues will then be raised by Tory MSP Brian Whittle as he calls for improvements in the infrastructure in the South West of Scotland.