Summary

  • A budget deal between the Greens and the Scottish government has been agreed

  • Meanwhile the Scottish Tories lead a debate calling for more police funding, as the justice secretary tells us of £60m more for the police

  • The budget deal means an extra £13m going to frontline police services

  • Police Scotland is to get £5m more capital funding

  • The additional cash for cops is not enough for the Tories, Labour or the Lib Dems

  1. Police funding debate beginspublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Police hi-vis jacket

    The Scottish Tories are leading a debate on funding for police services. They are calling for a "fair funding settlement" for Police Scotland.

    That the Parliament believes that Police Scotland is underfunded in the Scottish Government’s draft Budget 2020-21.Image source, Scottish Parliament
    Image caption,

    Here is Liam Kerr's motion

  2. Tory MSP responds to budget dealpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

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  3. It's a fair cop...published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

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  4. Postpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

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  5. We'll bring you all the news and reaction to the budget dealpublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political reporter

    On his twitter feed @BBCPhilipSim this is going to involve extra funding for councils, public transport and energy efficiency projects - he'll bring us full details & exchange of letters etc shortly.

    We'll bring you all the news and reaction to the budget deal as it happens.

  6. Finance secretary welcomes budget deal...published at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

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  7. Budget deal!published at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020
    Breaking

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  8. Tourism sector keen to engage on low carbon says ministerpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing says the sector makes an important contribution and assessment on specific issues - such as the impact of short-term lets - has been carried out.

    Mr Lindhurst says not a single Scottish city appears on a global index on low carbon tourist destinations.

    Mr Ewing says he will look into the report mentioned, but adds people involved in the industry are keen to engage in the low carbon agenda.

  9. Background: Edinburgh must balance tourism with 'quality of life'published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Edinburgh needs to balance its rising visitor popularity with “quality of life” for residents, says the SNP's Ben Macpherson.

    The minister said tourism is an "extremely important part of the Scottish economy".

    He told BBC Debate Night the Scottish government is committed to a "transient visitor levy" to allow local authorities to raise revenue from tourism.

    Edinburgh councillors have agreed to investigate moving a controversial Christmas market out of the city's Princes Street Gardens next year.

  10. Tourist impactpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst asks about assessments on the impact of increasing tourist numbers on Scotland's cities.

  11. Culture and tourism questionspublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Outlander sceneImage source, STARZ/SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

    Culture, tourism and external affairs ministers are quizzed by MSPs. Here is the full list of questions., external

  12. How will compromise in our inshore waters be achieved?published at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Lib Dem MSP Mike RumbleImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumble

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks how exactly compromise can be achieved in our inshore waters if the local management groups can't agree.

    The minister says the government will do everything it can to find a way through and he praises Marine Scotland's efforts.

    Mr Ewing reiterates remote electronic monitoring will also help.

  13. Call for rollout of monitoring to cover all vesselspublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Green MSP Andy Wightman

    Green MSP Andy Wightman calls for the rollout of remote electronic monitoring equipment to include all vessels over and under 12 metres, citing recent cases of illegal dredging.

    The cabinet secretary says the first equipment will be delivered around March/April and the approach will be proportionate.

    He suggests it is likely the smallest vessels will be fitted with a tracking devise but probably not tele-monitoring equipment.

  14. How can we tackle 'gear conflict'?published at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Labour MSP Colin Smyth welcomes a number of measures in the statement, but says it did not address the question of who can fish and where.

    Mr Smyth says this conflict must be resolved and he asks about re-implementing a three mile limit.

    If not, how will the government resolve the gear conflict, asks the Labour MSP.

    Gear conflict can occur both within and between fleet sectors and is not conducive to the aim of ensuring fisheries are well managed.

    Fishermen are competing for space and often for the same target species. Scotland’s inshore waters are fished using many different gear types.

    Labour MSP Colin SmythImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Colin Smyth

    Mr Ewing replies he thinks that local fisheries management on a regional basis is the best way to deal with these matters.

    Who better to reach agreement about these often complex matters than the people involved themselves asks the minister, who then praises the work of the inshore fisheries groups.

    He posits gear conflict is relatively rare and the installation of REM in scallop dredgers will help.

  15. Will there be a fisheries bill and what funding is available?published at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman welcomes "positive proposals" in the statement, particularly on remote monitoring and local management.

    He wonders if the inshore fisheries bill is still planned and asks what funding will be in place to support initiatives announced today.

    Mr Ewing confirms funding was announced prior to the tender process.

    He highlights the commitment to bring forward subordinate legislation, but adds there are no plans to proceed with primary legislation until after the outcome of a discussion paper is clear.

  16. Inner Sound Inshore Fisheries Management Group announcedpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Mr Ewing tells the chamber he is setting up an Inner Sound Inshore Fisheries Management Group to design cross sector participation in the modernisation programme.

    The Inshore Fisheries Pilot: Inner Sound of Skye consultation outcome report from Marine Scotland can be accessed here, external.

    He announces a new online platform at rifg.scot for Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups.

  17. Meanwhile rumours about budget deals step up ahead of debate tomorrow...published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

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  18. Minister confirms remote electronic monitoring programme contractpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Mr Ewing

    Mr Ewing announced Woodsons of Aberdeen Ltd have been awarded the contract for the remote electronic monitoring programme.

    He also confirms the scallop dredge fleet will be first to be equipped with the new technology.

    The rural economy secretary goes on to announce that in Spring he will introduce regulations on the marketing of creels which will create clarity on identity of ownership and ensure buoys are made of consistent material and design.

  19. Background: EU ministers agree UK trade talks mandatepublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2020

    Michel BarnierImage source, EPA

    Ministers from the EU have approved their mandate for post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.

    The document, external- approved by the EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday - will be the basis for the negotiations, to be carried out by Michel Barnier.

    One clash expected between the UK and EU is on fishing, with leading member states speaking regularly about wanting continued access to UK waters.

    In a speech in Greenwich, south-east London, earlier this month Mr Johnson announced that, once free of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, "British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats".

    But French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin signalled fishing would be a flash point when the two negotiating teams come together in London and Brussels over the coming months.

    "The fishermen have the right to be protected, they know very well that if we sign a bad deal they will lose enormously," she told TV station France 2.

    Read more.