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Mr Stewart tells the chamber there are 24 empty homes officers across Scotland working in 21 local authorities and he adds he wants to see an increase in the pace of recruitment.

It's hard to believe we still have councils in Scotland who do not think empty homes are a problem, the minister says.

"I will continue to endeavour to persuade all of these councils to do what is right and that is to recruit empty homes officers."

Mr Stewart concedes the planned compulsory sale orders are much anticipated, however there is very little parliamentary time due to Brexit and they cannot be introduced in this parliamentary term.

He insists he remains committed to introducing the orders and to promoting compulsory purchase orders.

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Housing Minister Kevin Stewart welcomes the committee's report on empty homes and accepts its recommendations.

Mr Stewart sayd: "We all agree, I think, that too many homes are empty."

This is at a time when we need more homes across Scotland, he adds.

The minister tells the chamber he wants to ensure no homes are left empty for a significant period of time without good reason.

He says he would like to see councils establish a more joined up strategic approach to the issue and cites the benefits of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership Approach, external.

However delivery should always be done at the local level, he adds.

Local Government and Communities Committee convener James Dornan says different communities face their own unique challenges when it comes to empty homes.

"Empty homes if left to decay can cause a blight on communities."

A theme that emerged early in the committee's inquiry was the importance of every council having an empty homes officer - yet many do not, nor do they have plans to recruit one, Mr Dornan explains.

Turning to an additional council tax levy applicable to empty homes, he says the committee supported its use - but expresses concern about some councils not taking a discretionary approach which can lead to some people being penalised when they are taking steps to bring a dwelling back into use.

The convener says there has been a low uptake of compulsory purchase orders, partly due to complexity and partly due to councils being risk averse when it comes to court proceedings.

He also expresses disappointment that compulsory sale orders - which would put problem properties onto the open market without councils having the purchase them - will not be brought forward sooner.

Compulsory sales orders should be introduced to reduce the number of empty homes in Scotland, MSPs have said.

Holyrood's local government committee has said it was "disappointed" the Scottish government had not yet introduced such powers.

It also highlighted the low take-up of compulsory purchase orders, calling for a review.

Convener James Dornan said: "Empty homes are a blight upon communities across Scotland and represent a wasted resource at a time when housing supply is limited."

Read the committee's report., external

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The local government committee is leading a debate on empty homes, following its report published in November.

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UK government plans for a March budget are "disrespectful to devolution" and could have "profound consequences" for Scotland, Derek Mackay has warned.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced he will set out his tax and spending plans on 11 March.

Scottish ministers want to see these plans before drawing up their own, but will now have little time to do so.

Mr Mackay, the Scottish finance secretary, said the move was "really disrespectful" to Holyrood.

Scottish councils need to set their budgets by 11 March, and local government umbrella body Cosla has written to Mr Javid warning of "catastrophic risks" to local services.

A date for the Scottish budget will be announced in due course, with Mr Mackay in talks with other parties and the Scottish Fiscal Commission about how to respond to these "exceptional circumstances".

Read more here.

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Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says: "It's pretty shoddy and out of touch for the UK government to hold back the budget until March."

Mr Rennie asks if Mr Mackay will amend Section 93 of the Local Government Finance Act to allow council tax in Scotland to be set after 11 March.

That's one of the options, confirms Mr Mackay.

He reiterates his pledge to engage with local government and Cosla.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie urges all MSPs to bring constructive ideas to improve the Scottish budget forward.

If we are to have any time at all to scrutinise the budget, we are going to have to see at least a draft budget well before 11 March he argues.

Mr Mackay says the door is open to all parties for ideas.

In terms of timescales, the finance secretary confirms he will come back to parliament once the government has engaged with the finance committee.

More than ever before, "we should work together to ensure that we have consensus around the Scottish budget," he says.

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Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says despite all the bluster from the cabinet secretary it was the SNP that called for the general election.

Mr Fraser goes on to ask the finance secretary not to cut the core budgets of councils.

The finance secretary says if Boris Johnson can't even get the month of his budget right, how is he expected to believe what he says about cash.

He adds he wants to see the colour of his money and the actual detail.

Mr Mackay insists the UK budget was good to go before the election in November last year.

"The Tories could have got on with it."

Ms Grant shares many of the cabinet secretary's concerns, adding the Scottish parliament will have limited time to scrutinise the Scottish budgets.

She suggests he publish current plans to maximise scrutiny opportunities, particularly of any major changes.

Mr Mackay says an exceptional bespoke process will be needed for the Scottish budget this year and confirms he is working with the finance committee on a way forward.

"If there is a truncated period of security, it's not because of the actions of the Scottish government."

The finance secretary pledges to work with Cosla going forward.

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Chancellor Sajid Javid has set 11 March as the date for his first Budget - the first since the general election.

Mr Javid says billions of pounds will be invested "across the country".

The Treasury will "prioritise the environment", he said and reiterated a plan to make use of low borrowing rates to spend on public services.

John McDonnell, Labour's shadow chancellor, said he doubted whether the government would deliver on its investment or climate goals.

Read more here.

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Ms Grant asks the cabinet secretary to outline the risks involved due to the timing of this year's UK budget.

The finance secretary says he has had no response to two letters he sent last year to the chancellor about those risks.

Mr Mackay says 11 March is the final date for councils to set their budgets and council tax levels, so clearly their will be profound impacts.

He says he agrees with Rhoda Grant that this is disrespectful, adding it appears to him that the "Tory government has given up on the union altogether."

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the UK government has shown "complete disrespect" to the Scottish parliament as no advance notice was given about today's announcement.

He highlights he has also had no response to requests for information from the chancellor.

We remain focused on introducing a Scottish budget at the "earliest practical opportunity," he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asks when the Scottish government will publish its budget, in light of reports today that the UK budget will not be created until 11 March.

Image source, BBC/Getty

A row has broken out between Holyrood and Westminster over tax and spending plans.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced that he'll set out his delayed Budget on 11 March.

However Scottish Ministers and local authorities say that leaves them no time to work out the budget north of the border.

The row will be the subject of an urgent question at Holyrood this afternoon.