Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

An advertising campaign about Brexit looks more political and electoral than helpful to business.

The chief economist at the Scottish government has updated the cost of Brexit uncertainty in business investment, adding half a billion pounds to projections.

Scottish consumer confidence remains weak, and Gary Gillespie reports that import decline has been far greater than an export boost since sterling fell.

The price being paid for Brexit is already eye-watering. The latest wheeze is to spend up to £140m telling us to be prepared.

Read more.

Mr Mackay cites the potential damage Brexit could cause and the need to address the climate emergency.

The finance secretary believes capitalising the bank to the tune of £2bn is achievable and ambitious.

He says the £2bn over 10 years represents a very good starting point according to the Economy Committee report, external.

Mr Mackay says there will be a role for parliament going forward.

Image source, bbc

Legislation to set up a Scottish national investment bank has been published at Holyrood.

The Scottish government wants to have the bank up and running by 2020, with £2bn committed for investment in Scottish businesses over 10 years.

The bill now before MSPs will grant the necessary powers to set up the bank as a public limited company.

Its main role will be to make longer-term investments in Scottish firms, over a period of 10 to 15 years.

Read more here.

Finance and Economy Secretary Derek Mackay says the bill lays a foundation for an institution which will be a cornerstone for driving the economy.

The bank will also make a significant contribution in our work to tackle the climate emergency, he says.

Mr Mackay explains that in the long-term the bank will be expected to put itself on a stable financial footing and therefore not be reliant on government funding.

Business investment levels are low and innovation performance is behind other EU nations, which points to the need for the SNIB, he says, and also warns about the negative impact Brexit may have on the economy.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish National Investment Bank Bill, external is being debated by MSPs for the first time.

The bank is designed to make longer-term investments in Scottish businesses, with £2bn committed by the government for 10 years.

It was first announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her 2017 programme for government speech.

The economy committee backed the bill in July, but did call for MSPs to have a formal role in setting its long term focus.

Image source, bbc

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says by recycling an estimated 294m glass bottles a year the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will cut emissions by more than 1.2m tonnes of CO2 equivalent over a 25 year period.

Mr Carson points to concerns from the Scottish Retail Consortium that the DRS would add an additional £50m per year in costs, which will end up being paid for by the consumer.

He calls for small stores to be supported during the roll out of DRS.

The minister accepts there are more issues around glass than plastics and aluminium.

She adds many other countries already include glass.

Image source, Getty images

Plans to introduce a deposit return scheme in Scotland are too complicated and could miss a planned 2021 launch date, experts have warned.

The Scottish government will add 20p to the cost of some plastics, cans and glass as part of its climate action plan.

It is hoped the scheme will be up and running by 2021.

But the government's own advisory group has "raised concerns" about "deliverability on that timetable".

Read more here.

Tory MSP Finlay Carson asks the Scottish government what assessment it has made of the impact of including glass in its deposit return scheme on Scotland's glass manufacturers and recycling sector

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon says the programme for government included a commitment to implement Lucy's Law.

Ms Gilruth asks about other steps to ensure animals are protected from exploitation and abuse.

The minister points to a planned increase in maximum penalties for abuse, introducing CCTV in slaughterhouses, and updated guidance on livestock welfare.

Image source, PA

A new law aimed at cracking down on so-called puppy farms in England was laid at Westminster in May.

Known as Lucy's Law, it will ban the sale of kittens and puppies from third parties from spring 2020, making buyers deal with breeders directly.

It will require animals to be born and reared in a safe environment, with their mother, and to be sold from their place of birth.

Named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who died in 2016 after being poorly treated on a puppy farm, the ban is scheduled to come into force on 6 April next year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.

SNP MSP Jenny GIlruth asks the Scottish government whether it will consider the implementation of 'Lucy's Law' in Scotland, in order to ban the selling of puppies by pet shops and other third party dealers.

Image source, Pa

Environment, climate change and land reform ministers face questions from MSPs.

Here's a full list of the questions., external

Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse praises Doddy Weir as a "great man and a great leader", telling the chamber he played rugby with him at school.

He explains that blue badges are awarded by local authorities based on eligibility criteria set by the Scottish government, but this criteria has never been based on medical conditions.

We think this approach is, in general terms, the right one he says, suggesting adding specific conditions could make the system unwieldy.

However Mr Wheelhouse agrees there is a need to ensure the regime continues to improve and confirms Transport Scotland has been taken steps on decreasing the wait for a blue badge to be awarded.

We will also revise and refresh the statutory code of practice with help from MND Scotland, he states.

Former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir has received his OBE from the Queen.

He was honoured for services to rugby, motor neurone disease (MND) research and the Borders community.

Weir, who revealed he has MND in 2017, set up the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation to raise funds for research and provide grants to help those affected by the disease.

From The Scotsman..., external

"Rugby legend Doddie Weir has called for Scots with motor neurone disease to be given disabled parking badges to help them live a 'dignified and as full a life as possible'.

"Weir, who went public with his condition two years ago, wants the Scottish Government to allow automatic access to the Blue Badge Scheme for people living with the condition.

"Campaigners say a 'lengthy process' of a desk assessment is currently required before they get a badge."