Nicola Sturgeon faces the first FMQs of the new decade
Carlaw and the FM clash over education and higher results
Leonard raises care funding but FM insists the government has protected council budgets
Harvie calls for better bus services while Sturgeon cites infrastructure investment
Why does the Scottish government support Heathrow expansion asks Rennie; the FM says the policy is under review
A Glasgow Airport rail link, council budgets and university places feature too
Image source, Getty ImagesFacial recognition technologies are covered by the bill
MSPs will now debate the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill for the first time.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
"Yes," replies Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon.
Mr Smyth asks when we can expect the preregistration consultation and then the bill.
The minister says this will be set out in the next legislative programme but it is still the intention to bring proposals during this parliamentary session.
Image source, Getty ImagesHunting with hounds was banned in Scotland in 2002, but dogs can still be used to flush out foxes
Labour MSP Colin Smyth asks whether the timetable for its proposed legislation on fox hunting allows sufficient time for it to be passed within the current parliamentary session.
Last January we reported that legislation to tighten restrictions on fox hunting in Scotland was to be introduced at Holyrood.
Hunting with hounds was effectively banned in 2002, but dogs can still be used for flushing out foxes to be shot.
The new bill will be designed to close loopholes in the existing rules, limiting the number of dogs which can be used while hunting to two.
Image source, Getty ImagesMSPs will now put their questions to environment, climate change and land reform ministers during portfolio questions.
Quote Message“It is disappointing not to be able to announce details of the contract for the North Lot due to a dispute over the awarding of the contract, but the Scottish Government is doing its utmost to ensure that people in the north of Scotland can access superfast broadband through the R100 programme as soon as possible, including through our voucher scheme.”
Paul Wheelhouse, Connectivity minister
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks how is this statement supposed to be good news when many people in the south of Scotland will have to wait until the end of 2023 and his own constituents do not know when they will be connected.
"There'll be dancing in the villages and streets of Aberdeenshire" over the voucher scheme, he sarcastically states.
He says people in Aberdeenshire will want to know when they will be connected.
Mr Wheelhouse says the legal challenge is having an impact.
He highlights 87% of premises will be covered by R100 and those who are not covered will have the option of vouchers before the end of 2021.
A detailed rollout plan for R100 will be published in the coming months, the minister adds.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Green MSP John Finnie
Green MSP John Finnie says the Scottish Conservatives have an absolute brass neck given the UK government's failings.
Mr Finnie supports the Scottish government's call for a fair share of the UK funding.
He says the Western Isles HIE-run ConCom network is to close and 30% of the households in each of the three island authorities do not have access to superfast broadband.
The Green MSP asks for a commitment to prioritise the rollout to Scotland's island communities.
The minister gives that assurance that he is prioritising the outside-in approach and pledges to allow those communities to thrive.
Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the minister has confirmed the "worst kept secret" that the government's broadband commitment will not be kept.
Regarding properties not covered by R100 in the south and central lots, he asks whether they will receive fibre connections.
He highlights many smaller towns are not within R100 or the commercial sector plans for fibre to premises.
Mr Wheelhouse says 100% of R100 deployment in south Scotland will be fibre, with the remaining properties being considered.
This may not be fibre because this may not be technologically possible, he adds.
However, he assures the member these premises will receive superfast speeds.
Mr Wheelhouse reiterates the voucher scheme will allow access to superfast service by 2021 which is well ahead of the UK government's commitments.
In timing and in the quality of the offer, today's statement is better than that of the UK government, he argues.
The minister says just over 200 houses will be left in the south requiring additional support and they will be able to access the aligned intervention voucher scheme.
He denies burying information and argues the government has delivered 943,000 premises that could not be delivered commercially.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Jamie Greene
Tory MSP Jamie Greene says this is a disappointing statement, adding he feels sorry for Mr Wheelhouse having to break the promises made by Fergus Ewing on superfast broadband.
Mr Greene says the Scottish government's ambition was admirable but adds "buried away on page three of the statement is an admission that that commitment simply will not be met".
Reaching 100% of premises across all of Scotland by 2021 is now the end of 2023, he points out.
What percentage coverage of the south and central lot of the 100% coverage will be due to the government, he asks.
Given that the south and central lot will have to wait until 2024 for coverage, how much longer will the people in the north have to wait for superfast broadband, Mr Greene adds.
He asks, given the choice of a guaranteed speed of 10 megabits per second right now by the UK government, or wait at least four years for the Scottish government's 1000 megabits per second, what will people choose?
Mr Wheelhouse says commercial investment has an important role to play and commercial suppliers have already gone further than anticipated.
I will be able to share specific details for rollout plans at premise level once this has been taken into account by BT projections, he tells the chamber.
There is no doubt rural Scotland has perennially had to play catch up to the rest of the UK, he says.
But the work to date will provide foundations for R100 to ensure Scotland is ahead of the curve, not just within the UK, but internationally he adds.
Mr Wheelhouse announces all of the planned R100 build in the south of Scotland and the majority in central Scotland will use full fibre.
The connectivity minister explains this will mean the civil works will take time.
He says the aligned intervention will be delivered through a voucher scheme which will launch later this year and will provide grants to broadband customers.
Aligned intervention refers to efforts to get premises online which are not covered by the main procurement process.
The minister says he hoped to be announcing details of all three lots today, but unfortunately there is now a legal challenge from Gigaclear Ltd regarding the north lot.
He explains until the challenge is resolved the contract cannot be awarded as planned. However he pledges to ensure people in the north are able to access superfast broadband through the R100 programme as soon as possible.
He says in the meantime customers in the north will be able to access the voucher scheme.
Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse says around 100,000 more premises now have access to fibre broadband than was originally planned under the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme.
This is a strong foundation on which to reach 100% of premises getting access to broadband, he states.
Mr Wheelhouse says the UK government has "belatedly" woken up to the need for digital connectivity, but the Scottish government could not wait for it.
Contracts covering south and central areas have been signed, the minister confirms.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Image source, bbcInternet speeds vary across Scotland
Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse delivers a statement on enhancing Scotland's digital connectivity.
The £600m Reaching 100% (R100) superfast broadband programme has been hit with a delay as the lot one, covering the north of Scotland, became subject to a legal challenge last year.
The Scottish government confirmed in December it had finally signed off two of the three regional contracts for the R100 programme, but a legal challenge was holding up the third.
Internet-service provider Gigaclear Ltd. have challenged the awarding of the broadband contract for the north of Scotland, awarded to BT, who have also been awarded the other two contracts for the roll-out of the R100 programme.
Image source, bbcThe Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill will be debated for the first time.
We begin the afternoon early with a ministerial statement entitled 'Enhancing Scotland's Digital Connectivity', followed by environment portfolio questions before MSPs debate the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill for the first time.
Image source, COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSIONThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains cemeteries and memorials commemorating 1.7 million people who died in the armed forces in the First and Second World Wars.
The Commission, created by Sir Fabian Ware, was established by Royal Charter in May 1917.
Its core principle is to name each of the Commonwealth dead on a headstone or memorial, with equality of treatment irrespective of rank. Individuals with no known grave are commemorated on a Memorial to the Missing.
MSPs are praising the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission during the lunchtime member's debate.
Tory MSP Maurice Corry's motion highlights 175,000 Scots have been commemorated by the commission in foreign countries, while over 20,000 war graves are in Scotland.
Image source, Scottish ParliamentHere is the motion