The cabinet secretary says changes between Johnson and May's deal suggest a more distant relationship with the EU is anticipated.

He warns the deal will also undermine the rights and wellbeing of EU citizens who have chosen to make Scotland their home, as well as making Scotland less attractive to people.

Not once has the UK government sought the agreement of devolved administrations during negotiations with the EU, the minister insists.

Mr Russell accuses Boris Johnson of not understanding devolution.

The people of Scotland have a right to determine their own future as as member of the European Union, he insists.

Turning to the upcoming election, he concludes: "Bring it on."

Image source, Getty Images

A Brexit deal has been agreed by the UK and EU, but what does it all mean?

We answer a sample of the questions we have received from readers.

• Just click here for all the answers
• What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?
• What is Boris Johnson's new deal with the EU?
• What are the PM's election options?

Here's more analysis of the impact of the new Brexit deal , externalfrom the Scottish government:

• In 2018 around 6,900 companies operating in Scotland exported goods to the EU and around 11,000 companies were reliant on imports from the EU
• All are likely to be adversely impacted by a decision to leave the single market and customs union through a combination of higher costs, lost competitiveness and production and distribution delays
• These impacts will in turn feed through to suppliers, jobs and the wider Scottish economy.
• Scotland will not only be removed from the European Single Market and EU Customs Union, it will be placed at a competitive disadvantage in relation to Northern Ireland

Image source, AFP

Mr Russell says the government's assessment of the new Brexit deal is that it is an even more damaging deal than the May deal this parliament rejected last year.

The Brexit secretary says Boris Johnson's Brexit deal will leave the UK £70bn worse off than if it had remained in the EU, according to a study by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).

It concluded that GDP would be 3.5% lower in 10 years' time under the deal.

The independent forecaster's outlook is one of the first assessments of how the economy will fare under the new deal.

But the Treasury said it plans on a 'more ambitious' agreement with the EU than 'NIESR is basing its findings on'.

Read more here.

Mr Russell says the deal proposed by Boris Johnson is "rotten" and insists it would put Scotland at a serious disadvantage owing to the Northern Ireland arrangements specifically.

There is no way this deal gets the drawn-out process of Brexit over and done with, he adds.

He suggests there is a high likelihood of the UK crashing out of the transition period without a long-term deal with the EU even if the Withdrawal Agreement Bill were passed now.

SCOTLAND’S PLACE IN EUROPE: Our Assessment of the Revised Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, external

The government's analysis says:

• Under a basic trade agreement of the type the UK Government wants to negotiate Scottish GDP is estimated to be 6.1% lower by 2030 compared to continued EU membership
• This equates to a cost to each person in Scotland equivalent to £1,600. • No future relationship deal has yet been agreed.
• Rather than being avoided, a ‘No Deal’ crash out may well just be postponed until, potentially, as soon as December 2020.
• The Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration taken together make it clear that Scotland will be removed from the European Single Market and Customs Union

Image source, Scottish government

Brexit Secretary Mike Russell will now deliver a statement on the impact of the proposed new EU exit deal on Scotland.

The findings of the Scottish government’s assessment of the revisedwithdrawal agreement and political declaration, external have been published online.

The fresh analysis outlines the impact on the economy, living standards, the NHS and the rights and protections Scots currently enjoy inside the EU.

Image source, PA

Coming up in the chamber this afternoon:

• 1.30 pm: Ministerial Statement: Impact of Proposed New EU Exit Deal on Scotland (15 mins statement, 30 mins questions)
• 2.15pm: Portfolio Questions: Health and sport ministers will be quizzed, followed by communities and local government ministers

Image source, POLICE SCOTLAND

• 2.55 - 5pm: Glasgow School of Art Fire debate, led by the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee
• 5.05pm: Members’ Business: Margaret Mitchell – Charities, Scotland and Holyrood

The convener highlights that the European Rail Network for Competitive Freight and Trans-European Transport Network (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 are scheduled to be laid before the UK parliament on 17 December.

However, it is noted that as of yesterday it looks like a general election will take place on 12 December.

Mike Rumbles suggests the committee does not move forward with the regulations as a result, but Jamie Greene insists that withholding consent could set a precedenct about making decisions based on possible future events.

The committee agrees to delay consideration - though Mr Greene dissents from this decision.

It moves into private session.

MSPs will now consider the following petition— PE01616 by John S Shaw, on Parking Legislation.

The committee will then consider the South of Scotland Enterprise Act 2019 (Commencement and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2019.

Finally in the public session it will consider a proposal by the Scottish government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposals:

• The European Rail Network for Competitive Freight and Trans-European Transport Network (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Mr Wheelhouse insists there is not a public health risk related to 5G, pointing to various studies.

Image source, Getty Images

The 5G mobile network has been switched on in some UK cities and has led to questions about whether the new technology poses health risks.

In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) said that "no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use", external.

However, the WHO together with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all radio frequency radiation (of which mobile signals are a part) as "possibly carcinogenic".

It has been put in this category because "there is evidence that falls short of being conclusive that exposure may cause cancer in humans, external".

Read more.

SNP MSP Maureen Watt asks where Scotland's 5G centre will be located and what resources it will receive.

Mr Wheelhouse replies the 5G centre will get £5.3m funding from the Scottish government over three years.

The minister explains it will be led by the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde, working with Highlands and Islands University and other partners.

Does the Scottish government have sufficient powers and resources to introduce 5G across our rural areas, asks Emma Harper.

Mr Wheelhouse says the government does not have any powers in relation to regulation, but he says he is working to create the right climate for investment using devolved powers.

Robbie McGhee says the 5G strategy is not an infrastructure strategy, but rather to demonstrate use cases.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks if there is sufficient collaboration between the governments and commercial companies to address 5G issues.

The minister explains the Scottish government's 5G strategy, external was published recently and highlights useful conversations with his UK counterpart.

SNP MSP Richard Lyle wonders what improvements rural households can expect before 2021.

Specifically, he highlights a case there fibre cabling has been installed in a village but residents do not have access to it, labelling this "astounding".

Mr Wheelhouse says there are many villages in this situation due to market issues, and he accepts this does not make sense to customers and commits to working to resolve such problems.

The minister agrees to write to the committee with further information.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about the subsidy per premise and accuses the UK government of not providing the £3,000 subsidy for hard to reach premises in Scotland.

Mr Wheelhouse welcomes the UK government's commitment of £5bn to achieving full fibre if it is Barnettised.

Mr Stevenson points out the subsidy from the UK government in Scotland is only £250, not £3,000.

The minister replies there are voucher schemes available but argues there is a fundamental mismatch here.

The UK government's approach appears to be hugely discriminatory against Scotland, says Mr Stevenson.

Mr Wheelhouse agrees saying there is a lack of parity in the treatment of Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Grimsay in the Outer Hebrides, a three mile-long rocky outcrop linked to Benbecula by a causeway, has just a hundred households - and the best fibre broadband connections in the UK.

Grimsay and Great Bernera, a hundred miles to the north, have both been given full fibre broadband, meaning every home in these tiny remote communities can now get fibre piped right to the door.

This makes them unusual - just 7% of UK homes have access to full fibre, which means we lag far behind many of our European neighbours.

Read more here.

Mr Wheelhouse confirms that it is still the case that 3.5% of the funding is coming from the UK government.

"We continue to push for further funding from UK ministers."

He says there has not been an increase in funding to R100 itself, though he does highlight the signing of city deals, some of which will support broadband infrastructure.

We are getting a pretty poor deal in terms of funding, particularly in comparison to Northern Ireland he adds.

Image source, PA Media

About 400,000 UK properties gained access to full-fibre broadband for the first time over the first four months of the year, according to Ofcom.

That gave access to a total of 8% of all premises, external, marking a one percentage point gain, the watchdog said.

The numbers highlight the amount of work that needs to be done if the Prime Minister's goal of providing access "for all" by 2025 is to be achieved.

Ofcom noted that other technologies could also deliver Gigabit speeds.

• Broadband chiefs fire back at PM's full-fibre internet pledge
• 5G: Rural areas could see bigger and taller masts
• Read more here

SNP MSP Maureen Watt highlights areas that have not been deemed commercial in her constituency and asks if they will fall within the aligned interventions rather than the R100.

Mr Wheelhouse says that is possible and ideally the aligned interventions should occur at the same time as the R100.

Ms Watt asks if the minister is appealing to the better nature of the commercial companies to deliver within the R100 boundaries and the minister replies, "always".