Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says his party do not intend to oppose the order, however we do have concerns about the overall allocation of cash to councils.

Mr Fraser accepts that overall support to local councils has increased, according to SPICe there has been a 1.1% in real terms, which relates to £110m in revenue.

However, due to ring-fencing, the core budget, which is at the discretion of the councils, is down by 2.5% or by £230m.

Mr Fraser argues that abstaining on this is a reasonable position to take, as he is not sure voting it down is a reasonable tactic.

But as it's been proposed by the Lib Dems it doesn't really matter, he adds.

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart asks why is every single council having to cut millions of pounds from budgets and making hundreds of people redundant.

Ms Forbes says SPICe makes clear the overall funding for local authorities is going up.

This order also seeks approval for changes to funding allocations for last year, which have been added to meet agreements she says.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says Aberdeen City Council has received the least amount of money for the last few years.

Ms Forbes says it is up to COSLA to consider to distribution methodology and must agree to revisit it.

She goes on to confirm that all councils will retain every single penny of non-domestic rates gathered in their area.

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Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes says at the end of the day this is about ensuring local authorities can deliver services to people.

Ms Forbes insists this is fair deal for local government.

In 2019/20 the government will provide £11.2bn in total, with £10.1bn for revenue spend and £1.1bn for capital spend.

Today's order will provide £9.5bn for local government out of the revenue total, she says.

The overall potential increase, factoring in council tax, is £621.4m argues the minister.

The Local Government Finance Order sets the amount each council receives for 2019-20.

£6,619m is to be provided in revenue support grant, while a further £2,853m comes from non-domestic rate income.

Image source, SPICe

According to SPICe, external, "once Revenue funding within other portfolios (but still from the Scottish Government to local authorities) is included, the total is £11,071.2 million, a cash increase of 3.8% (£405.1 million), or 2% (£210.5 million) in real terms.

"However, when looking specifically at the non-ringfenced Revenue funding available for councils to deliver services (GRG+NDRI) this falls by 1.7% (-£157.2 million) in cash terms, or3.4% (-£319.1 million) in real terms".

MSPs will be asked to approve the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2019 after a short debate.

Mr Ewing confirms he has not had formal discussions regarding the impact of the Bill, but he confirms Transport Scotland officials are working with COSLA to better understand barriers to implementation.

Mr Rumbles says the cost of the bill will disproportionately impact rural Scotland.

"I'm happy to relay the comment's that Mr Rumbles has made," the cabinet secretary replies.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell insists the financial modelling behind this bill was developed with the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland.

Mr Ewing says he had not looked at the modelling himself but insists his colleague Michael Matheson is giving serious consideration to the bill and costs.

Image source, PA

A bill proposing to lower the speed limit in built-up areas of Scotland to 20mph was published at Holyrood in September.

The legislation drawn up by Green MSP Mark Ruskell has won the backing of SNP, Labour and Lib Dem members.

It proposes making 20mph the standard speed limit for urban areas, although councils could still designate 30mph areas in consultation with communities.

The bill is currently being scrutinised by the rural economy committee. If passed by parliament, it could become law by the end of 2019.

Read more here.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles queries discussions between the rural secretary and transport secretary on the impact of the proposals in the Restricted Roads (20mph speed limit) (Scotland) Bill on the rural economy.

Creating a market for UK lamb to match what is exported to the EU could take up to 10 years in the event of a no-deal Brexit, sheep farmers have warned.

A third of lamb produced in the UK is sold in the EU.

Farmers and crofters fear rules on foods from non-EU and tariffs will cause a collapse of this market.

The UK government said there was "significant work" under way to ensure that UK exporters could maintain access to EU markets after Brexit.

The Scottish government said the UK leaving the EU without a deal would be "catastrophic".

Read more here.

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SNP MSP Emma Harper asks the Scottish government what analysis it has carried out of the potential impact on sheep farming of Brexit.

Mr Ewing says a no deal Brexit is by far the biggest threat to the sheep sector, which will be worse off with every possible deal.

The cabinet secretary adds It is really disgraceful we still don't know what the tariffs will be.

Sheep farmers could face a massive loss of income from exports he says.

Mr Ewing points out every single lamb needs to have its mouth opened to see how old they are.

The rural economy secretary says he was confident there was going to be a scheme to do away with this, but just recently the UK government have decided they are not going ahead.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing recognises the economic impact some wild species can have on crofters.

He says a range of strategies and measures are in place to support them.

Mr Stewart asks what is being done to ensure a balance can be reached and the cabinet secretary agrees measures need to be sufficient to enable farmers to protect their stock.

Image source, SPL

More than two in three crofters believe the income is significantly impacted by wildlife, according to the Scottish Crofting Federation.

Of the 255 crofters who responded to a survey, over a third said geese were eating grass, standing on crops and fouling the land.

In addition, 30% said they were impacted by deer eating grass, trees and feed.

The Federation said there was a "balance to be struck" between the rights of crofters and rights of animals.

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart seeks a response to the Scottish Crofting Federation's survey stating that many crofters believe that their incomes have been significantly affected by wildlife.

Image source, BBC/Getty

Click here for the full list of questions., external

Image source, AFP

After a shortened lunch, rural ministers face portfolio questions at 2pm.

Then MSPs will debate the Local Government Finance Order, which allocates councils their settlements.

Finally the Scottish government will lead a debate to mark International Women's Day 2019.

Europe and Migration Minister Ben Macpherson says we should not be having to have this debate.

My message to EU citizens hers is "Scotland is your home, we want you to stay".

He insists the UK government's hostile environment is hurting people and asks it to rethink its white paper on immigration.

The settled status scheme should not have been considered, says Mr Macpherson.

Image source, bbc

"People should not have to apply for the rights they already enjoy."

Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks if the Scottish government's official policy is that the EU27 should give automatic residency to UK citizens living there.

The prime minister should have led on this years ago, replies the minister and the EU 27 would have followed.

He says Citizens Advice Scotland can more information and advice than offered by the UK, he says.

Image source, ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE

Efforts to encourage EU citizens to stay in Scotland after Brexit are to be stepped up, Nicola Sturgeon has told members of the French parliament.

The Scottish first minister addressed a committee of the Assemblée Nationale during a visit to Paris.

She said she would "always make it clear that EU citizens are welcome".

The Home Office is currently testing an application system for settled status in the UK, which it said 100,000 people had successfully taken part in so far.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says people who are living in Scotland should have an automatic right to remain.

It is shameful that people were being treated as a pawn in negotiation tactics, he argues.

Migrants from the EU contribute £2,300 more than the exchequer per year than the average adult, Mr Rowley highlights.

The Labour MSP insists it is time to talk about immigration to disperse the myths and fears people have around it.

Scotland needs more, not less, immigration he adds.