Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks what about funding the government provides to support the Edinburgh Christmas and New Year celebrations, and what criteria are applied.

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The co-director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay has said a balance has to be struck in the needs of local people and visitors.

Ed Bartlam of Underbelly was speaking after the event which ushered in 2020, which he said had been a success.

The days leading to the event saw some residents of the city centre voice concerns about access restrictions.

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Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks: "How long is a generation?"

Mr Russell says the UK government's definition of a generation, according to its dealings with Ireland, is four years or, if there is little community support, eight years.

I wish they would keep to this definition, he adds.

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell says the rejection by the UK government of the people's right to choose is a further reason that Scotland's future should be put in Scotland's hands.

There'll be an update on indyref2 shortly says Mr Russell, indeed we're expecting one from Nicola Sturgeon next week.

He says there will be a range of events next week that will reflect that Scotland did not vote to leave the EU nor does it want to.

The only way to remain in the EU is to vote for independence and rejoin it as all other routes are blocked, he insists.

The minister says people have to choose between that and "Boris's bonging Brexit".

SNP MSP Gil Paterson seeks a response to the prime minister's decision not to grant a section 30 order to allow a second independence referendum to take place.

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The UK government has formally rejected a call from Scotland's first minister for a second independence referendum.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a referendum would "continue the political stagnation Scotland has seen for the past decade".

And he said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had previously pledged that the 2014 referendum would be a "once in a generation" vote.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted that the Tories were attempting to "deny democracy".

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Mr Russell says victims have been taken into account for this bill, with many people responding to a consultation on it.

He says he is still happy to meet with victims to discuss any issues.

The minister insists the move is being taken forward proportionately, thoughtfully and carefully.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks about discussions with victims of crime regarding the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill.

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Prisoners serving a sentence of less than 12 months could get the right to vote under new legislation.

The new laws would also extend the right to vote to anyone legally resident in Scotland, adding 55,000 people to the electoral register.

The bill will also restate the rights of European Union citizens resident in Scotland to take part in elections.

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After constitutional and culture portfolio questions, Scottish Labour will lead a debate in local government funding.

Then Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour hosts a member's debate on the 350th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

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A parliamentary inquiry into why two Calmac ferries are almost £100 million over budget and three years late has been told that almost none of the ships' design was signed off - long after work began on the vessels.

The ferries are being built at Ferguson shipyard on the Clyde but it collapsed last summer and was nationalised by the Scottish government.

MSPs were told that four years after the contract was awarded, 95% of the ships' design had still not been agreed with the customer, CMAL.

Mr Logan says the trade union was reluctant about public ownership until it realised the only way forward to protect the workforce was to accept the government's public ownership of the yard.

Committee convener Edward Mountain asks if the contract had been awarded to Hyundai in 2015 would they have built the ferries in under five years.

Yes I think so, replies Mr Hair, adding they are a very capable global shipyard.

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Mr Mountain asks what happens if the CMAL spec is not met.

Mr Hair says the intention is to deliver the specification as contracted.

Would you design a ferry that is too big to get into a port or not be able to dock in a port due to poor weather, asks Mr Mountain.

He says he is designing a ferry to meet the contract specification of the user.

The evidence session draws to a close.

Alex Logan says the first question workers had for Mr Hair was whether those on temporary, rolling contracts would be given full-time contracts.

They are all on permanent contracts now, while those on two-year contracts are now being looked at to decide whether they will be offered full-time contracts he explains.

"We are trying to build a core workforce and build the workforce up."

Mr Logan praises Mr Hair for delivering on what was promised.

He also points to efforts to ensure the apprenticeship scheme is taken forward given the ageing workforce.

Mr Hair says rebuilding the confidence of the workforce after the difficult time they have been through is an important part of the turnaround.

He says with regard to the union there are regular conversations between himself and Alex Logan to ensure the workforce have a clear idea of what is going on.

The FMEL turnaround director cites a series of small group briefings updating the workforce.

A works council has been created as a result of the TUPE process, he adds.

When TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) applies the employees of the outgoing employer automatically become employees of the incoming employer at the point of transfer.

Green MSP John Finnie asks about future performance penalties which have been avoided due to amending of the contract.

Mr Finnie wonders about any environmental impact of these changes.

Mr Hair says the amendment was made in 2016 and reflected the fact that the original fuel consumption in the contract was in terms solely of the engines, not the whole vessel.

There was a change to the supplier's specification of the engines which changed their fuel efficiency, he explains.

Tim Hair says FMEL is having to work with a third party in order to increase the resources in the drawing and design office at the speed necessary.

There are three other vessels in the yard at the moment but the timetables mean these will not conflict with progressing the two ferries, he says.

The decision to complete the two vessels rather than scrapping largely stemmed from the timetables involved, he says.

He insists Glen Sannox is in a good condition, aside from "ropey paintwork", and scrapping and getting it back to this point would take at least a year.

Tim Hair says we are currently very much in remedial mode: fix the ships, fix the business.

The planning is on track, adds the FMEL turnaround director, who says reworking on the vessels is being progressed effectively.

He says the controls and management processes are being put in place to have a proper grip on the project and address the engineering shortcomings.

Image source, Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

SNP MSP Maureen Watt asks if the detailed design work has being taken in-house.

Mr Hair replies the detailed design work always was in-house, but at present it is being done, completed and signed off.

"The responsibility for that always rested with Ferguson, we're actually doing it now and doing it in the right order."

We've employed more naval architects and marine engineers he explains.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth notes the Glen Sannox will need to be docked for external inspection and he asks what the worst case scenario following this would be.

Tim Hair highlights the ferry has been in the water for two years so significant amounts of marine growth are expected to be found.

Everything that is under the water will be inspected and we are not expecting to find anything "catastrophic", he says.

But we've chosen not to send divers down so we will not know for certain until it is in dry dock, the turnaround direct adds.

Mr Smyth asks whether this means cost could go up, but Mr Hair reiterates it is unlikely there will be anything catastrophic.

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The Ferguson Marine shipyard was formally taken into public ownership, the Scottish government announced in December.

The move came after administrators agreed final terms for the transaction with Scottish ministers.

In the autumn, administrators from Deloitte concluded public ownership was in the best interests of the creditors, despite receiving three commercial bids.

The Port Glasgow yard is now known as Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd.

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Alex Logan says the workforce did not have the full concept of design, which led to three quarters build and then six months delay.

"It's like building a jigsaw when you've got missing parts. You're never going to complete it."