Image source, bbc

That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 19 June 2019.

MSPs backed plans to give councils the power to levy a tax on workplace car parking spaces.

The measure could see councils charge businesses an annual fee for every parking space they provide for workers.

Opposition parties said the move was a "regressive tax on workers", but the rural economy committee ultimately backed it by a vote of six to five.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said it would give councils a "modest and completely discretionary power".

The powers have been added in to the Transport (Scotland) Bill, which will still have to be signed off in a vote of all MSPs.

Amendments were put forward by Green MSP John Finnie, who stressed that they were "a power not a duty" and a move to "empower local councils".

• Will you have to pay to park at work?

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey begins by highlighting various actions taken to tackle problem alcohol consumption.

In particular, she hails the "world leading" minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

Ms Haughey says she is "shocked" by the experience of young people with regards to alcohol marking, adding it is clear self-regulation is not providing sufficient protection.

We will continue to press the UK government to restrict TV advertising or devolve the powers to do so, the minister tells the chamber.

Ms Haughey also says the government will act in areas where it already has powers, such as billboard ads.

The deputy presiding officer finally closes the meeting - adding "well done everybody!" to the members.

Image source, Getty Images

Scots bought less alcohol in 2018 than any year since records began in the early 1990s, according to a new report.

Analysis by NHS Health Scotland found Scottish adults still bought more alcohol than people in England and Wales on average but the gap narrowed.

A minimum price per unit of alcohol was introduced on 1 May last year in a bid to tackle Scotland's drink culture.

The authors of the report said it was not possible to quantify the impact but "early indicators were encouraging".

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Back in 2018 Scottish women's football's chair Vivienne MacLaren said the organisation would never accept sponsorship deals with alcohol or gambling companies.

All three main domestic competitions in the senior men's game in Scotland are sponsored by betting companies.

But MacLaren says Scottish Women's Football (SWF) has a duty to only associate with "positive" brands.

"Over 80% of our members who play football are in youth teams and are under 18," MacLaren told BBC Scotland.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Last November we reported drink adverts could be banned on TV before the 9pm watershedunder Scottish government plans to curb alcohol abuse.

Manufacturers will also be urged to include health warnings on labelling.

The measures are part of a 20-point strategy, external aimed at reducing drinking, with a focus on young people.

It was unveiled as new official figures revealed there were 35,499 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Scotland in 2017-18.

Image source, ISTOCK

The Scottish government's Alcohol Framework, external sets out national prevention aims on alcohol.

Here's what the government has already done:

• implemented the world’s first minimum unit price for alcohol, set at 50 pence per unit
• banned multi-buy discounts
• irresponsible promotions
• reduced the drink-driving limit
• supported a nationwide alcohol brief interventions programme

Mr Gibson highlights the number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland and also hospital admissions.

He says many under 18s remember seeing at least one alcohol advert a day and other surveys have found a greater familiarity with beer brands than biscuit brands.

I hope more sports teams follow the SWF in avoiding alcohol sponsorship, the member says.

Mr Gibson notes steps taken in Ireland around preventing advertising in sports and before TV watershed, adding Scotland should watch outcomes on this as it considers its next steps.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson will now lead a member's debate entitled 'Protecting Children and Young People from the Marketing of Health-harming Products'.

Mr Gibson will focus on alcohol marketing associated with increased consumption, higher risk drinking, susceptibility to drink, and brand knowledge among young people.

He'll also praise Scottish Women’s Football's stance against alcohol sponsorship as part of its aspiration to be a "clean sport", as outlined by its chair Vivienne MacLaren.

Image source, bbc

That's the end of the consideration of amendments this afternoon, so we have ten amendments left to be added to the business tomorrow.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

For the last time today here's the Planning (Scotland) Bill, external.

and the all important:

• marshalled list of amendments, external
• and their groupings, external

The mediation amendment is agreed to.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone argues this amendment, while well meaning, is not good enough.

Ind MSP Mark McDonald says it is not clear how mediation would work where there are multiple individuals, and he also suggests it would add complexity, cost and time.

Communities Minister Kevin Stewart says the government will look to build in guidance already in place and lends support to the amendment.

He also says this would allow more involvement of Gyspy/Traveller communities in planning.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson turns to the group on promotion and use of mediation.

He says he has "enormous sympathy" with communities left out of the planning system, explaining this has fueled the demand for equal appeal rights.

There must be a better way, he tells the chamber.

Mediation would not be used at the end of the process, it would be part of the process he explains.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says we're going to push through until 7.30pm, when the member's debate will go ahead.

The minister speaks to his amendment on the meaning of "material considerations".

Andy Wightman warns "material considerations" can override moving towards a plan-led system, so he opposes.

The amendment is agreed to, with 86 MSPs backing it and with 29 against.