That's all from Holyrood Live on Thursday 13 June 2019.

MSPs have voted down the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill.

The bill sought to make 20mph the standard speed limit on residential streets in Scotland.

In a heated debate, Green MSP Mark Ruskell insisted the measures would improve child safety and save five lives a year.

But opponents of the bill questioned the evidence of this and argued local authorities are best placed to make a decision on where 20mph zones are appropriate.

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MSPs vote down the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill.

26 MSPs backed it but 83 voted against, with four abstentions.

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie tries to raise another point of order saying a member is allowed to give way to another member for an intervention and cannot be instructed by the chair to take one.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says Linda Fabiani did not instruct Mr Ruskell to take an intervention.

The incident was handled absolutely rightly, he says.

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Green MSP Mark Ruskell draws the conlcusion that Mr Rumbles is an advocate for the motoring lobby in this chamber first rather than for child safety.

The Lib Dem MSP gets to his feet to raise a point of order saying Mr Ruskell has cast a slur on his character.

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That's not a point of order says Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani, but says Mr Ruskell can reflect on what Mr Rumbles has said.

The Green MSP stands by his comments.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson criticises some members for suggesting that because he does not support this bill, he does not care about reducing accidents.

I want to make sure we take appropriate measures he says, and commits to looking at alternative options including reducing barriers to councils putting 20mph zones in place.

He highlights the road safety framework will need to be refreshed next year.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says it is an "absolute myth" that this bill is a top down, one-size-fits-all approach.

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Claudia Beamish says it is depressing we are falling behind London, Wales and Europe on speed limits.

Scottish Labour support this bill, Ms Beamish says and she calls for national action and national leadership on this.

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Peter Chapman says safer roads are supported by all MSPs.

The Tory MSP says where resources are limited this bill could and would divert money away from measures that would have far greater impact on road safety.

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MSPs are expected to vote against Green MSP Mark Ruskell's bid to make 20mph the standard speed limit on residential streets in Scotland.

Mr Ruskell put forward the legislation with the aim of reducing deaths and serious injuries on roads.

But the rural economy committee concluded that a "one size fits all" approach was not appropriate.

Three members of the committee dissented from the final report.

Mr Ruskell said the report "puts the motoring lobby ahead of child safety", urging SNP members to get behind the bill.

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Reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph — would you consider the idea a feminist issue?

Anna Semlyen, Campaign Manager for 20’s Plenty for Us, believes that it is and debated the issue on Mornings with Stephen Jardine with Euan Blockley, a Conservative councillor from Glasgow who’s against blanket speed reductions.

Ms Semlyen’s argued that women in particular would benefit from lowering the speed limit to 20mph.

“Women gain more confidence; they can exercise more; they gain time; they gain freedom.

Read more here.

SNP MSP John Mason - who was one of the rural economy committee members who dissented from its conclusions - highlights more accidents happen in deprived areas.

He suggest making a national change would be simpler and less expensive than councils rolling out 20mph zones.

Mr Mason also argues that it is more likely to change public perception, because people currently thing 30mph is the norm when, he argues, 20mph should be.

The jury is still out on what the environmental impact of the bill would be, he accepts.

He confirms he will be abstained on the bill at decision time.

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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says no-one could be against a bill designed to reduce death and serious injury on our roads, or one that would increase child safety.

However Mr Rumbles says Mr Ruskell has tried to deflect criticism of his bill and claim some kind of motoring lobby has captured committee members.

He says he is pleased to see that Mr Ruskell "has not repeated that ridiculous charge today".

Mr Rumbles says the rural economy committee gave this bill a fair hearing and he wants to see safer roads and fewer accidents, but according to the evidence this bill would deliver neither.

He points out Scottish Borders Council are concerned that money will have to be taken away from road safety measures on rural roads to implement this bill.

Green MSP John Finnie says one of the worst causes of casualty is speed, which means slower vehicles make for safer streets.

He says many of the presumptions being made are that the "motorcar is king".

Opponents to the bill suggest a key issue is that local authorities should be the decision makers, Mr Finnie says, adding he hopes this attitude continues into next week.

MSPs will both be discussing the Planning Bill and also the workplace parking levy next week...

Mr Smyth says drivers are used to driving at 30mph and only by introducing a national 20mph limit would that behaviour be changed.

The Labour MSP adds the introduction of a 20mph limit would lead to widespread health benefits, adding a postcode lottery should not determine whether people get these benefits or not.

He says the current piecemeal ad hoc approach cannot deliver the cultural change we need.

The Labour MSP says the myths raised by those against the bill must be challenged, pointing out councils would still have the power to exempt roads from the default speed limit.

The bill is no more a one-size fits all approach than the current 30mph limit is a one-size fits all approach, he argues.

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Labour MSP Colin Smyth says his party will put children's safety first today by supporting this bill.

Mr Smyth points out almost a third of the rural economy committee dissented against its decision not to recommend this bill.

He thanks Mr Ruskell for bringing this member's bill and adds the benefits of the introduction of a national 20mph zone.

It would lead to 755 fewer casualties and five fewer deaths, Mr Smyth points out.

He stresses the social, environmental and safety benefits of the bill and points out 80% of respondents to its consultation backed the proposal.

Mr Ruskell says the police should take greater enforcement action on residential roads, as that is where his childhood friend was killed.

Mr Greene says he hopes the police are listening to the member's point.

He praises Mr Ruskell for bringing the bill forward, but suggests it was the "wrong answer to the right question".

He offers his party's support to looking at other options to increasing safety on roads.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says the rural economy committee found it difficult to sum up the evidence received due to the inconsistency around it.

He suggests today's debate is not the end of the conversation around 20mph zones and confirms his party supports their expansion.

But he insists it should be up to local authorities to make these decisions and the traffic regulation order process must be simplified.

We have to be realistic and we have to legislate sensibly, he argues.

Mr Matheson says the government does not support a blanket 20mph limit on all restricted roads.

The Scottish government minister warns against other speed limits being brought into disrepute.

He says the rural economy committee says the bill restricts local authorities ability to devise 20mph limits that suit their area.

The transport minister reiterates concerns about compliance in this bill and he reiterates local authorities are best placed to decide 20mph zones, based on evidence and local knowledge.