Image source, Stuart Tweddle

High winds have led to more disruption across Scotland, after Storm Dennis saw many areas hit by flooding.

A fallen tree blocked the A82 north of Invermoriston for a time and the final night of Aberdeen's Spectra Festival was cancelled.

A section of railway line was shut as water spilled from an aqueduct onto overhead power lines in Renfrewshire.

Homes in Hawick and the village of Newcastleton in the Borders were flooded on Saturday night.

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Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton asks the Scottish Government what support it is giving to communities affected by recent flooding.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says it is a miracle that no-one was injured or even worse, and he calls for reassurance for commuters.

Mr Matheson reiterates there is a five point plan now in place alongside additional forecasting and there is now a clearer understanding of the parameters when icing will take place.

This makes predicting when icing will take place an easier task, he explains.

The minister points to the implementation of sensor equipment and stresses there will be visual checks.

Lib Dem MSP Alex-Cole Hamilton asks when the review of issues around the bridge will take place.

Mr Matheson replies it has been delayed due to challenges around data used for the assessment work.

Transport Scotland expect to receive that review in the Spring and when a technical review has been completed, it will be published, explains the minister.

Scottish Labour's Colin Smyth asks about mitigation planning, which had been taking place before the ice incident, by contractors since last May.

The cabinet secretary says a range of works were being carried out, with a number of points highlighted including ice sensors.

Procurement and installation will take place soon, but human observation is key, he adds.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says one of the most frustrating aspects of the closure was that commuters were not able to divert across the Forth Road Bridge for very understandable reasons.

Will this diversion be considered in future, asks Mr Fraser.

Mr Matheson replies he has asked his officials to explore that as a possibility.

Is there a formal emergency closure procedure, Mr Ruskell asks.

The minister very much regrets the inconvenience caused by the closure of the bridge for safety reasons, recommended by Amey and agreed to by Police Scotland.

He says there were attempts to contact Fife Council about the need for diversions.

The minister recognises the concerns of those who live on a diversion route like Kincardine.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says a review has been conducted by a range of expert advisers.

Mr Matheson says there is now a five point plan in place going forward, learning from this experience and a debrief will take place on 24 February 2020.

The design of the bridge was approved by parliament, the minister reminds Mr Ruskell.

The Green MSP says the closure of the bridge came as a shock to many, not least Fife Council.

Image source, Graeme Stevenson

The Queensferry Crossing between Edinburgh and Fife had to be closed because of the danger of falling ice.

Bridge authorities blamed a "unique set of weather conditions". So, does this problem have a solution?

Bridges around the world have struggled with snow and ice falling from the towers for years but the modern cable-stayed bridges give more opportunity for ice to accumulate and then fall on to vehicles below.

In Denmark, the Oresund Bridge has had to close numerous times under similar circumstances to the ones that shut Scotland's £1.35bn Queensferry Crossing.

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Mark Ruskell of the Scottish Greens asks the Scottish Government what lessons have been learned from the recent closure of the Queensferry Crossing.

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MSPs have queries about the closure of the Queensferry Crossing, recent flooding and elevated flaring at Mossmorran, during topical questions.

Reverend Aftab Gohar from Abbotsgrange Church in Grangemouth will start proceedings in the chamber today. He is also Wing Chaplain for the West Scotland Wing of the Air Training Corps.

MSPs will have queries about the closure of the Queensferry Crossing, recent flooding and elevated flaring at Mossmorran, during topical questions.

The prescribing of social activities, like exercise groups and art classes, will be debated in the chamber, following an inquiry by the Health and Sport Committee.

It looked into the benefits of sport and physical activity, as they are seen as key contributors to preventative self-care for health and wellbeing.

This evening's member's debate looks at the decision by Western Isles Council to teach P1 children in Gaelic from this year, unless their parents opt out.

And of course the appointments of Kate Forbes as Scotland's first female finance Secretary and Jenny Gilruth as Europe minister will (almost certainly) be confirmed following a vote by MSPs.

Speeches ahead of the vote begin at 4.45pm.

The budget funding for zero waste has decreased, says Angus MacDonald.

Ms Cunningham says the reason for this is that the deposit return scheme will move from government to industry.

Zero Waste Scotland is content with this, she adds.

And the committee draws to a close.

Image source, bbc

Marine Scotland director Graham Black says the budget for his organisation is "broadly ok, it's flat basically".

"This is a manageable budget that will enable us to actually improve the areas that we are prioritising."

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks about the national performance framework, and how it's influenced budget spending on the environment.

It's not as mechanical as you'd expect, Ms Cunningham responds. There's no direct line, but we're working towards better outcomes.

There's no specific change regarding national outcomes, but it gives us a target to work towards, she says.

The wellbeing approach is government wide, and it improves opportunities for all - and she points to national parks.

Peat restoration will bring jobs and security. The answer to everything from me, she jokes, is going to be peat.

Mr Ruskell queries whether peat outcomes will offset road building projects.

That's not the conversation we're having, she replies.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

The draft budget now being road-tested at Holyrood was a "wellbeing" budget.

It was progressive and inclusive. It was for growth, and a greener Scotland.

Or so we were told. The stand-in finance minister, Kate Forbes, won plaudits and new admirers for the way in which she told us.

The tricksy thing about budgets, however, is that they feature numbers, which either back up the claims being made or they don't.

Image source, Getty Images

• Expert analysis of the Scottish budget has foundered on its lack of clarity and transparency
• It is hard, if not impossible, to tell how much is being spent on priority areas, such as tackling poverty or boosting economic growth
• 'Wellbeing' is a new dimension to budget planning, but it has yet to be defined or baked into the financial plans
• Council tax remains barely reformed and regressive, yet bills are set to rise ahead of inflation.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Angus MacDonald asks about the annual target for peatland restoration.

That's difficult on a yearly basis, Ms Cunningham replies.

Funding has gone from £14m to £20m, which is still a challenge she says.

Over the 12 years of the Climate Change Plan, there will be reduced emissions in Scotland by 0.8 megatonnes per year, which is massive she adds, just from this one thing.

SNP MSP Angus MacDonald asks about the "biodiversity crisis" and asks if this budget enables a step change.

Ms Cunningham says the funding allocation for Peatland Restoration is a step change, as is the biodiversity challenge fund.

The cabinet secretary tells the committee: "Because of that, the future of biodiversity is in a good place."

She says the quarter of a billion pounds for peatland restoration "looms massive" and will have a huge benefit in terms of biodiversity.

Proceedings are briefly interrupted by an unusual outburst, seemingly from Stewart Stevenson's phone, for which he apologises.

• The draft Scottish budget has begun its passage through Holyrood, on a tight timetable, and with opposition MSPs putting council spending at the top of their list of concerns.
• That requires a budget deal across party lines. Talks are now under way, but acting Treasury Secretary Kate Forbest insists there is no extra money available.
• There's growing risk in the budget, as powers are devolved. Scotland's tax watchdog is suggesting ministers should take care not to over-commit any extra funding while they run the risk of unexpected costs.