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MSPs will debate the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) (Scotland) Bill for the final time this afternoon.

This legislation would see prisoners serving a sentence of less than 12 months getting the right to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

It would also extend the franchise to all those with a legal right to live in Scotland, including those who have been granted refugee or asylum status.

To pass, the bill would require the support of at least two-thirds of MSPs.

We'll end the day with MSPs voting on an LCM for the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill - UK Legislation.

This week its the turn of government business and constitutional relations ministers to field questions.

Here's the full list of questions., external

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• Total spending on justice, which includes the police, court system and fire service, will be £2,831.5m
• The Scottish Police Authority funding will go up from £1,180.1m to £1,222.3m
• Spending on the fire service will increase from £327.2m to £333.3m
• Extra spending on community justice of almost £7m will take its budget to £44m
• Legal Aid spending will be unchanged at £137.5m

Mr Kelly cites the £298m required by SPA to fund Police Scotland's IT strategy.

Mr Yousaf says the ask is significant at just shy of £300m and there have been discussions, adding Police Scotland have not stood still in terms of IT.

"There are some positive and real step-changes."

Labour MSP James Kelly raises issues with the police estate.

Mr Yousaf says his previous comments on the matter were not meant to minimise the problem but simply to highlight there are not issues everywhere.

Mr Kelly says the committee has heard money for the estate will be put towards resolving health and safety matters, meaning vulnerable witnesses will continue to have evidence taken from them in unsuitable surroundings.

The cabinet secretary says a recent survey found 99.5% of the police estate is compliant with health and safety regulations, so not all the cash will be spent simply on this.

Will the SPA continue to be able to recover VAT and will this be made available to Police Scotland, asks Mr Finnie.

We do not plan on making changes to current processes, replies the justice secretary.

He adds he will continue to ask the UK government to return the £125m that was taken in the years Police Scotland was charged VAT.

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Mr Finnie warns no change to improvement activity is possible in the coming year due to the capital budget, impeding the introduction of mobile devices and body worn cameras for officers.

Mr Yousaf says it was his understanding that £12m in capital funding in last year's budget was for 10,000 officers to have mobile devices, so it comes as news to him that every officer needs a device.

On body worn cameras, the cabinet secretary accepts there is a role for them to play but says there are issues around them.

He points out there needs to be a debate about the ethical implications before they are rolled out.

The advisory group on emerging technologies he set up will look into this, Mr Yousaf tells the committee.

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Mr Finnie says the one year allocation of capital funding makes it difficult to plan ahead with any confidence.

The justice secretary agrees that makes it challenging for Police Scotland and points to the infrastructure investment plan due before the summer recess.

This may provide for some certainty for years to come, Mr Yousaf adds.

Mr Finnie says the SPA has raised concerns about the budget and whether sufficient police services can continue to be delivered.

Mr Yousaf accepts the police "will have to prioritise" despite there being an increase to budgets.

It is for the chief constable to decide how to spend this money, with the exception of some ringfenced cash, and he can choose to invest in the estate for example, the cabinet secretary adds.

The majority of people believe our police service is doing a good job and increasing the budget above real terms continues to preserve this reputation, he tells the committee.

Mr Yousaf says more money would allow Police Scotland to go further in its transformation of services but they will have to prioritise.

Mr Yousaf says revenue funding for the police will increase by 3.4%, an additional £37.2m, ensuring Police Scotland has the money it requires.

He also points out the police capital budget will increase by 14.3%, £5m more than last year.

"I am pleased we have a budget that will protect officer numbers."

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Committee convener John Finnie welcomes Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and his team.

Mr Yousaf says the budget seeks to protect and improve public services and he believes there are significant gains for the police in the funding plans.

The justice secretary says overall the settlement for the police is over £1.2bn, with an additional £42.4m this year, a rise of 3.6%.

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Police Scotland is facing an "unsustainable" financial deficit, despite receiving more money than expected in this month's budget.

TheScottish budgetallocated an extra £37m to the force, almost double what it had expected.

But the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) said that still leaves an unsustainable deficit of £49m.

The concerns are detailed in a paper, which will be discussed at an SPA meeting in Stirling on Wednesday.

We'll now cover a police budget evidence session as Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf discusses the settlement for policing.

This follows the warning from the Scottish Police Authority that Police Scotland is facing an "unsustainable" financial deficit, in spite of the increase compared with 2019/20.

The lunchtime member's debate is on the role of Scottish agriculture in tackling climate change, which you can watch on SPTV., external

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