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Labour MSP Iain Gray says it is ridiculous this is an issue in the first place.

Mr Gray says the Brexit uncertainty is exponentially increasing and has already had a detrimental impact on the mental health of EU citizens, which will make Scotland and the UK an unattractive place to come.

He praises the "world class ground breaking research" in Scotland, despite cuts of 11% by the Scottish government.

This success is underpinned by EU staff and students working in research in Scotland he adds.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News

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Boris Johnson has instructed government departments to devise a new fast-track visa system to attract leading scientists to work in the UK.

The PM plans to scrap the cap on "tier one" visas for highly skilled migrants - currently the limit is 2,000 a year.

He also wants to make the system easier for scientists and their families.

Science bodies have welcomed the proposals but warn any benefits to research would be greatly outweighed by the damage caused by a no-deal Brexit.

Read more.

The withdrawal agreement should have appealed to more people right across the political spectrum because it was a compromise, Mr Mundell argues.

We could have drawn a line under the bitterness and division we've seen over the last few years he insists.

The Tory MSP suggests the SNP could have protected universities, businesses and the people of Scotland on three occasions in March.

Mr Mundell insists he is confident the UK government is listening to concerns raised by his colleague Liz Smith.

Education Secretary John Swinney accepts Ms Smith has fought consistently on this issue and asks how the UK government stance on migration is attracting people to Scotland.

Does he think there is a need for a change, he asks.

Mr Mundell replies there has been a reset of approach by the new prime minister.

The Tory MSP believes there is cross-party consensus around attracting people to Scotland.

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says there is much to agree with in the Scottish government motion and accepts his party has not gotten everything right.

I was in favour of leaving the EU but that does not mean I want the UK to sever its ties with Europe, he tells the chamber.

There is no good reason why collaboration cannot continue Mr Mundell insists, adding "relentless negativity helps no one".

These benches are committed to working constructively to find solutions and make the best of opportunities Brexit brings, he states.

We could have had all of these problems tied up and sorted by 31 March with the withdrawal agreement that was on the table he insists.

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EU nationals arriving in the UK before the end of next year will be able to apply to stay for three years in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The government has announced that a temporary Leave to Remain scheme would replace free movement.

This would allow EU nationals who arrive before the end of 2020 to stay until December 2023.

The government had hoped to completely end the free movement of EU nationals under a no-deal Brexit.

But free movement of EU citizens will not automatically end as a result of a no-deal Brexit, because EU law will continue to apply until its legal foundation is repealed.

Read more.

Mr Lochhead reminisces about the the success of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, which benefited more than 8,000 graduates between 2005 and 2008.

The minister calls for the return of the scheme which was ended by the UK government and also a flexible post-study work route for Scotland.

He adds the UK immigration white paper does not go far enough in this area.

Mr Lochhead says we need a competitive post-study work scheme as we had with Fresh Talent.

If these sectors suffer, Scotland suffers he adds and he calls for the UK government to rethink its migration policy.

Mr Lochhead says freedom of movement allows scientists to move quickly and easily between projects.

Anything that puts of barriers to a flow of people and ideas would make the UK a far less attractive place for researchers, he insists.

The minister also links this to funding, suggesting the UK will not be able to attract as much investment or research funds.

Proportionally more EU students come to study in Scotland than they do elsewhere in the UK he tells the chamber.

The planned three year temporary Leave to Remain scheme is discriminatory against Scottish institutions and against any person that does not fit that three year mould - with four year courses and more for medical students or those who go on maternity leave he states.

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Mr Lochhead warns against the damage to the sector of the "UK government's fanatical pursuit of a Brexit at any cost".

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell intervenes to say it is a bit rich for the SNP to say the Tories are taking the UK to a no-deal Brexit when the SNP voted against the deal three times.

The further education, higher education and science minister replies only the Scottish Tories would deny the chaos we are now seeing at Westminster.

He adds Brexit and the UK government's migration policy will be like a wrecking ball to the universities and scientific research sectors.

The minister cites the loss of talent from the EU of which there are many anecdotes and it "may be a trickle now but it could become a tsunami" with a no-deal Brexit.

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Further Education, Higher Education and Science Minister Richard Lochhead is leading this afternoon's debate on the impact of planned immigration policy on the university and science sectors.

His motion warns the proposals would be "deeply damaging" and criticises the three-year European Temporary Leave to Remain policy, given Scottish degrees tend to be four years.

It also calls for the reintroduction of the two-year post-study work visa, pointing to consensus in Scotland on this.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks why the cabinet secretary has taken two and half years to announce he has only now asked officials to prioritise legislation.

Fergus Ewing says the government has carried out a consultation and taken a series of practical measures in this time.

A lot of work has been done and we are not far off from being able to instruct parliamentary draftsmen, he adds.

Green MSP John Finnie praises the Croft House Grant Scheme and calls for it to be extended.

Mr Finnie asks whether the Scottish government has reviewed all of its crofting policies.

it's an ongoing process, explains the minister.

Mr Ewing welcomes Mr Finnie's point about the Croft House Grant Scheme.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the failure to deliver on the commitment on legislative reform within this session will be viewed as a broken promise.

He asks whether the nine most urgent issues will be dealt with in the bill.

Mr Ewing reiterates there was no clear majority on the way forward in terms of legislation which is why the government is continuing the engage with stakeholders.

I profoundly wish we can bring forward a bill in this session but we have no choice to "prepare for the worst" in terms of Brexit, he adds.

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Tory MSP Peter Chapman says this is an extremely disappointing statement as once again the promised crofting legislative bill has been ditched.

Mr Chapman asks the cabinet secretary to explain his "complete dereliction of duty".

The minister rejects the Tory MSP's assertion, insisting the government is working on legislative reform with stakeholders.

Mr Ewing again blames the Brexit uncertainty for the delay, requiring two bills sand 71 EU exit instruments.

If the Tory government abandons their Brexit obsession then of course there will be time for crofting reforrm, he adds.

Crofting has existed in the Highlands and Islands for hundreds of years and is still very much alive today, but BBC Scotland's The Nine finds there are challenges to young people entering this traditional system of farming.

"All we want to do is croft," Karen Marshall told The Nine.

"But crofting isn't a permanent contract that you can go to a bank with and say: 'Can you give me a mortgage? I am a crofter. I will give you eggs every month. And slices of ham."

Read more.

This government is committed to re-peopling the Highlands and Islands regions, Mr Ewing states.

As part of this, we have provided over £46m to support crofting businesses and there are a range of other projects crofters can make use of, he adds.

The cabinet secretary goes on to highlight support for housing for crofters.

Attracting new entrants is critical to the future of crofting Mr Ewing says, confirming officials are looking at a support project to entice more people.

He confirms there have been 90 new entrants so far this year.

Image source, BEATRIX A WOOD

"It's celebrating how people interact and work with each other in a very strong community, rather than competing with one other."

When Beatrix A Wood moved to Uist in the Western Isles she became caught up in what she describes a unique and challenging rhythm of traditional Scottish crofting.

The farmer, photographer and filmmaker began to document farming life on the islands and how age-old methods are being preserved and passed on to inspire and inform young islanders.

Read more.

Image source, BEATRIX A WOOD