Summary

  • MSPs formally back calls from the Scottish Greens to revoke Article 50

  • Scroll back the live video to watch the Brexit debate

  • 89 MSPS back Green Motion , 28 voted against and SNP MSP Alex Neil abstained

  1. Scottish Greens' debates on revoking Article 50 and a climate emergency next.......published at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

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  2. 'I'll take no lectures from the Tories on how to run welfare'published at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Ms SomervilleImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Ms Somerville

    Ms Somerville says the Scottish government will take full responsibility for the remaining benefits to be devolved on 1 April 2020

    The government's timetable is ambitious and achievable adds the social security secretary.

    Mr Balfour says he is disappointed that the cabinet secretary will still not give a firm date and that the target of 2021 has been missed.

    The minister reiterates responsibility will be taken for all devolved benefits in 2020.

    She says "I'll take no lectures from the Tories on how to run welfare," citing the six year delay in rolling out Universal Credit.

  3. Background: Transfer of all disability claimantspublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Disabled parking signImage source, bbc

    Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville confirmed that the transfer of all disability claimants from the DWP to Scotland's Social Security Agency would not be completed until 2024.

    Ms Somerville said it was vital to take time to get the transfer right and promised that all payments would be protected and the new Scottish system would be fairer.

    However the Tories called for an apology to Scotland's DWP staff.

    And Labour called on Ms Somerville to apologise to disabled people left in the hands of the DWP until 2024.

    Read more from Holyrood Live here.

  4. Delay of roll-out of the second wave of social security benefitspublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour ask the Scottish Government on what date it took the decision to delay the roll-out of the second wave of social security benefits.

  5. Pensioners receiving carers assistance could result in fall in other entitlementspublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Ms Beamish says older people are by far the largest group providing care but only a small amount of receiving additional payments.

    Ms Somerville says because of the overlapping benefits rule, paying carers assistance to pensioners could see a fall in entitlements in other areas.

  6. Older carers question.....published at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks what assistance it plans to provide to older carers of pensionable age providing care of over 35 hours per week.

  7. Minister highlights four councils carrying out universal income studiespublished at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne SomervilleImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville

    Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says the Scottish government is interested in a universal income and cites the funding of a feasibility study.

    Mr Simpson says the Finnish scheme has ended.

    Ms Somerville expresses disappointment at the tone of the questions and highlights the four local authorities carrying out the feasibility study.

  8. Background: Universal basic income .....Finland's experiencepublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Media caption,

    Did Finland's basic income experiment work?

    Giving jobless people in Finland a basic income for two years did not lead them to find work, researchers said.

    From January 2017 until December 2018, 2,000 unemployed Finns got a monthly flat payment of €560 (£490; $634).

    The aim was to see if a guaranteed safety net would help people find jobs, and support them if they had to take insecure gig economy work.

    While employment levels did not improve, participants said they felt happier and less stressed.

    Four local authorities in Scotland, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow and North Ayrshire, looked at similar plans to pilot a universal basic income, so for BBC 5 live James Shaw went to meet some people taking part in a similar pilot project which is well under way.

  9. Universal basic incomepublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Tory MSP Graham Simpson

    Tory MSP Graham Simpson asks the Scottish government under what circumstances it would introduce a universal basic income.

  10. We now move to social security and older people ministers..........published at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Social security and older people ministers are quizzed during portfolio questionsImage source, PA/Getty Images

    Social security and older people ministers are quizzed during portfolio questions, read them all here, external.

  11. Scotland has strongest rights in world on homelessnesspublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says the government is happy to support action which pushes public institutions to embed human rights.

    Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the world for people facing homelessness and this gives us a springboard to do more, he adds.

    Mr Rowley asks whether housing will be included in a new human rights act for Scotland.

    The minister is unable to provide a time frame for legislation, but the first minister and advisory group has been clear on the government's intentions he states.

  12. 'Housing is a human right' reportpublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Labour MSP Alex RowleyImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley asks what the Scottish government's response is to the Shelter Scotland report, Housing is a human right, external.

  13. Communities and local government questions are first this portfolio questions....published at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Portfolio questionsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Portfolio questions is next.......

    Communities and local government ministers are quizzed first this portfolio questions.

    Read more here., external

  14. Postpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

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  15. Have letters been received and understood?published at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says only 26 patients have proactively contacted NHS Lothian and queries whether patients will have definitely received and understood the letters.

    Ms Freeman says she has asked the board for assurance that the letters were received and she will get back to the member with this information.

    Ensuring the letters were understood is a bit more complex but cardiothoracic consultants and GPs have been made aware of the symptoms and systems put in place so they are able to raise it with patients, she explains.

  16. Why were moulds in operating theatres? - source remains unknownpublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Green MSP Andy Wightman also offers sympathies and condolences to those affected.

    Health Protection Scotland says it is essential lessons are learned from these outbreaks, Mr Wightman says, asking what lessons will be learned here.

    He asks for clarity about whether the moulds were unusual and seeks answers as to why the moulds were in operating theatres.

    Green MSP Andy WightmanImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Green MSP Andy Wightman

    The minister says one of the lessons to be learned is the need for further investigation.

    The health secretary adds so far the source of the infection has not been identified.

    "There are always lessons to be learned," she says.

  17. What is being done to ensure routine monitoring?published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon also offers her condolences to the families of people who died.

    None of us want to learn of any further tragic outbreaks, no matter how rare or how few patients effected she states.

    What is the cabinet secretary doing to ensure routine monitoring of infections, she asks.

    Patient safety is the most important thing for all health secretaries, replies Ms Freeman.

    But there are times when we are playing catch-up to when infections and bugs become resistance to antibiotics, for example she states.

    Ms Freeman says the government is in contact with infection control leads and others, adding it is a constant part of her role.

  18. Call for a review of biological infection prevention across Scotlandpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Tory MSP Miles BriggsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs says he has heard from concerned constituents how hard this has been and adds his condolences to the families of those who died and the and sympathies to the 186 patients who received this letter.

    Mr Briggs asks what plans there are for a biological infection prevention review as it is quite clear public confidence has been "shattered".

    Ms Freeman says the national clinical director has been asked to look at international expertise and look into these unusual infections.

    She pledges to advise the health committee about what the Scottish government is doing to tackle this issue.

  19. 'NHS Lothian has a strong record on patient safety' - health secretarypublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Ms Freeman says NHS Lothian has a strong record on patient safety, going on to detail statistics indicating improvements in hospitals in recent years.

    There are lessons for us to learn from recent incidents at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, particularly around communication she accepts.

    Regarding the independent review of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, she says the independent chairs of the review are taking advice from experts on who members will be.

    We expect the chairs to consult on a draft remit shortly, she adds.

    I recognise that no patients want to receive a letter similar to those sent by NHS Lothian but they form part of a proactive, precautionary infection control system the health secretary says.

  20. Precautionary steps taken by NHS Lothian were the right ones to takepublished at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2019

    Ms FreemanImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Ms Freeman

    Ms Freeman says the precautionary steps taken by NHS Lothian were the right ones to take.

    In Scotland we have learned valuable lessons from the tragic deaths at the Vale of Leven ten years ago.

    The minister says improvements have been made in infection control.