Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf welcomes the consensus around the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill given the controversial nature of personal data handling.

It will go a long way to delivering accountability and transparency, and held to build public trust in police handling of data he tells the chamber.

The bill will ensure the use of new technology is effective, proportionate and ethical he adds.

Mr Yousaf says the commissioner will have a key role shaping the code of practice, which will come before the parliament before being implemented.

The biometrics field is evolving and we must have a national discussion on the police use of this data, he concludes.

Image source, LEX VAN LIESHOUT

The storage of personal information such as DNA, fingerprints and facial images will be controlled under this bill before the Scottish Parliament., external

It wants an independent commissioner to be appointed to improve the way biometric data is handled by police.

Ministers said this would ensure investigations were carried out in a lawful and ethical way.

The move follows an independent group's report on the need to balance public safety with individual rights.

DNA samples are the very essence of personal data yet there is no code of practice for the police and justice agencies, who rely on the information it contains to help them fight crime.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill aims to give greater oversight of how the police take, store, use and dispose of data such as DNA samples, fingerprints and facial recognition images.

Read more here.

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Health Secretary Jeane Freeman told MSPS the total number of cases in Scotland rose to 27, up four from yesterday.

The latest figures show 319 people in the UK are now confirmed to have Covid-19 and six people have died in British hospitals.

Ms Freeman detailed a number of measures being undertaken or considered by the government:

• more than £1 million is being spent on a "rapid scaling up" of NHS facilities for video consultations through the NHS Near Me provision
• the health secretary is also considering how trainee doctors and nurses could be drafted in to help the NHS effort
• recently retired medical professionals being brought back into the NHS is already being considered
• further work is taking place to help NHS 24 cope with an increase in demand for its services

Image source, bbc

MSPs will now debate the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill , externalfor the final time, ahead of voting on whether or not to pass it at decision time.

Image source, Getty Images

In January MSPs unanimously backed the general principles of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill, external.

The bill seeks to improve independent oversight for the collection, retention, use and disposal of biometric data.

According to SPICe, external, oversight will comprise of:

• the Commissioner reviewing law, policy and practice in relation to biometric data
• promoting public awareness of the powers and duties of police bodies as regards biometric data

• preparing and promoting the use of a Code of Practice.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs will now debate and vote on the Stage Three amendments to the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill, external.

To follow proceedings you'll need:

• Marshalled List of Amendments at Stage 3 , external
• Timed Groupings of Amendments at Stage 3, external

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says says Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh councils have been consistently underfunded.

He suggests the Scottish government has changed the rules around formula to ensure each council meets it without giving a penny more.

Highlighting the minister represented Edinburgh, Mr Rennie asks whether he will stand up for his constituents or back a "rigged formula".

Andy Wightman says financial decisions for local authorities should be taken by those who care most and live in that local authority area.

The Green MSP says it is a matter of regret so much of the revenue and capital allocations for councils are determined by this parliament.

However he adds Greens will and have done all they can to ensure the settlement is adequate, securing hundreds of millions of pounds in extra revenue over the last few years.

He says the financial settlement continues to be bedeviled by ring-fencing and unclear terms like "protected funds".

The Green MSP tells the chamber that filling the £95m local government funding hole was a vital part of the deal and he calls on the minister to explain when that cash will be delivered and why its not in this order.

Later on in the debate the minister insists the figures presented today in this renewed order do include that cash and pledges to write to Mr Wightman to clarify the situation.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack says given local government a third of the money they need to deliver services, this finance order is "nothing to celebrate".

The Scottish government has reduced allocations to local government by 3.8% she says.

Councils have had to raise tax and increase charges for services in order to balance the books she states, adding the lowest earners spend 17% of their income on council tax, compared to 1.5% for top earners.

Ms Boyack suggests the Scottish government is turning local government into local administrators.

From SPICe, external:

These changes mean that the headline numbers in the Budget now look like this:

• The combined general revenue grant + non-domestic rates income figure (i.e. the amount of money to deliver services over which local authorities have control) now increases in real terms in 2020-21, by 0.8%, or by £78.3 million.
• Once specific, ring fenced resource grants are included, then the combined figure for the resource budget now increases by 2.7% in real terms, or by £267.9 million.
• The total capital budget still sees a decrease in real terms this year, now at 29.5%, or £320.1 million, mostly driven by a decrease in general support for capital.

Image source, bbc

Graham SImpson asks where the extra £95m appears in the Local Government Finance Order.

The Tory MSP says it would be remiss of his party not to back the order as the money is needed for local services, but it does not mean they have to like the settlement.

He argues the settlement is "not proper or fair funding".

Mr Simpson points out Scotland's council leaders were disappointed with it, as revenue is going down and it will take £300m just to stand still - which is not being delivered.

Image source, PA MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

An extra £95m for councils was found by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes as part of her budget deal with the Greens.

Scottish councils had said they needed an extra £300m of funding just to "stand still", local government body Cosla has told MSPs.

Gail Macgregor, Cosla resources spokeswoman, said councils were currently absorbing about £200m of "inflationary pressure".

The body has also identified a £95m "shortfall" to its funding, external in the Scottish budget, before the deal was announced.

• Read more about the budget deal here
• Read more here about Cosla's evidence session at Holyrood here

Public Finance Minister Ben Macpherson says the budget provides a "fair settlement" to local government, totaling £11.4bn.

Mr Macpherson is leading a debate calling on MSPs to approve the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2020 (draft), external

The Local Government Finance Order will distribute £9.9bn of the revenue total of £10.7bn, the public finance minister adds.

He says any negative impact on non-domestic rates of Brexit or Covid-19 will be compensated for by an increase general revenue grant.

All local authorities have set their council tax levels and those who have not increased it by the maximum clearly agree they have received a fair settlement he argues.

Image source, bbc

Each of Scotland's 32 local authorities have been deciding their council tax for 2020/21. Councillors are able to raise bills by up to 4.84%.

Click here to find out what's happening in your area.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks when the government will update parliament on the Just Transition Commission recommendations.

Ms Cunningham replies: "Soon."

Image source, bbc

Mark Ruskell says previous summits have been heavily sponsored by fossil fuel corporations while delegates from countries on the front line like Malawi struggle to attend.

He calls for a commitment to find a way to directly support countries from the global south to attend.

The Green MSP also calls for a commitment from the government not to share platforms with corporations and lobbyists who only want to slow down action to tackle climate change.

Ms Cunningham says the government will continue to talk to the UK government about assistance required for those countries from the global south.

The minister adds that the fossil fuel sector does have an important role in the transition to a net-zero economy and they must not be locked out of the conversation.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish calls for the Just Transition Commission recommendations to be taken forward.

She also asks about increasing the Climate Justice Fund given the impact on the global south.

Ms Cunningham says the government is looking at the recommendations and will advise parliament on a timetable for "implementation or otherwise" shortly.

She says the government has a continued commitment to climate justice work.

Tory MSP Annie Wells welcomes the offer from the cabinet secretary on the use of the Glasgow Science Centre to the UK government.

Ms Wells asks for confirmation that this is the only building where there is a dispute between the Scottish and UK governments and also if Ms Cunningham expects the UK government to provide an alternative venue.

She asks for the cabinet secretary to agree that disputes like these will not help tackle climate change and both governments must work together to make COP26 a success.

Image source, bbc

"Of course working together is what will make COP26 a success and that is what we are endeavouring to do," the minister replies.

She adds she never used the term dispute rather she used the word conversation about the future of the science centre.

"I would hope and expect that the Scottish government will be able to secure an alternative venue."

"Everybody in this chamber will accept and agree there needs to be a place for the Scottish government," she adds.