Image source, bbc

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie asks if social media posts should be covered by the bill.

I think it should, replies Mr Russell, but the difficulty is how to enforce this.

It is highly desirable to have the same restrictions on electronic postings as exist for print, he adds.

The constitution secretary says the people who are intervening in elections should be identifiable.

Penny Curtis from the Scottish government points out this will be very hard to do and will evolve over time.

The committee draws to a close.

Is there a need for a change to the purdah period, SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald asks.

Mr Russell says purdah should not be extended lightly.

A single issue referendum is different from elections, he says, adding that while a government may have some sway on it, purdah would limit a range of other actions government take.

I would be hesitant to have purdah go beyond 28 days, he adds.

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A Scottish group which gave money to the Conservative Party has been fined £1,800 by the Electoral Commission for not reporting donations properly.

The Scottish Unionist Association Trust gave hundreds of thousands of pounds to the party over a period of 17 years.

These donations were reported by the Conservatives, but a probe found SUAT "consistently failed to provide proper notification" to the election watchdog.

The group has accepted the Commission's findings and paid the fines.

An investigation by the Ferret website, external previously found that the SUAT donated £318,876 to the Conservatives between April 2001 and February 2018.

• Read more here
• Ex-Tory MP dismisses 'dark money' claims

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks whether fines are truly a deterrent if demanded of a campaign organisation which only existed for the referendum and has since wound up.

Mr Russell says government must show that these issues are taken seriously.

Patrick Harvie highlights concerns about loopholes which allow overseas funds to sway UK politics.

He argues consequences of breaking the rules should not be a fine but a criminal penalty for individuals involved.

He says this would be a deterrent for accepting impermissible donations or hiding donations which may be impermissible.

The cabinet secretary says it is not an either/or.

He explains the Commission should have the right to fine but where people are found guilty, they should be subject to the full penalty of the law.

Image source, Getty Images

The Referendums (Scotland) Bill could pave the way for a new Scottish independence referendum

The Scottish government wants to put the question of independence to a new public vote in the second half of 2020.

However the bill does not set a date or question, with ministers seeking agreement with the UK government

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "now more than ever it is essential that we keep Scotland's options open".

Read more.

Ms Constance pivots to the Gould Principle, which came about in the aftermath of the 2007 Holyrood election.

Mr Russell recognises how important that principle is and he accepts there should not be two or more elections on the same day.

Ms Constance asks about when the six months should kick in, the passing of primary or secondary legislation.

This should kick in when the regulations are clear says Russell.

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The Electoral Commission would want to assess the wording of the question for a new Scottish independence vote even if it was the same one used in 2014.

A Scottish government official has suggested this would be unnecessary as the question is already "tested".

But the election watchdog said it would want to review the question in the light of possible new evidence.

The Scottish government said the 2014 vote provided a clear precedent for a simple, straightforward question.

Read more.

Ms Constance asks what stops the Electoral Commission giving any advice it wants to Mr Russell.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," replies the constitution secretary.

He goes on to say he has confidence the Commission.

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The Scottish government has agreed to an emissions reduction target of 75% from 1990 levels by 2030.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has said she thinks of the opportunities rather than the sacrifices this higher target will bring.

However, she has said she’ll need to go back to climate change scientists who’d said 75% was achieveable to work out how to make this happen.

To ensure we continue to take an evidence based approach the Scottish Government will commission new advice from the Committee on Climate Change on the UK wide pathway to 2030.

A Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change will be created to make recommendations to Ministers on how Scotland’s net-zero transition should be achieved.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says the Electoral Commission insists it should be able to assess any referendum question, regardless of whether it has been tested previously.

If this bill is about getting best practice, why is the minister going against the Commission he asks.

Mr Russell reiterates the question has been tested and is in continued use.

Mr Fraser says if indyref2 is to take place, it must reach the same level of credibility as in 2014.

The cabinet secretary agrees parliament must endeavour to reach this level of credibility but adds there are political disagreements around the process - and he points to a tweet by Mr Fraser last week which read "Leave/Remain and a Two-thirds majority required".

There was a wink at the end of that, replies Mr Fraser - causing some amusement in the room.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Alex Rowley asks if it is not important that people have confidence going into a referendum, when circumstances have changed.

"This question is current and has been asked again and again and again," argues the constitution secretary.

Mr Russell says those questioning this, in some circumstances, are "muddying the waters"

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"This question has been tested," he says again.

"Six years ago," hits back Mr Rowley.

"This question has been tested," replies Mr Russell.

Mr Bibby says there has been overwhelming evidence that the Electoral Commission should be involved in testing the indyref2 question, quoting previous expert witnesses.

The Labour MSP asks if the cabinet secretary is prepared to ignore this expert opinion.

Mr Russell reiterates he is entirely in favour of testing the question, but the question has been tested and is in current use.

It has been used over 50 times, he says.

Anyone suggesting a leave/remain question has not given this proper thought given the connotations, he adds.