Minister announces 66% emissions cut by 2020 in Scotland

bbcCopyright: bbc

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie says Ruth Davidson raised a question during first minister's questions about business rates for the Score Group and she says this company and its chairman have given donations to Better Together and Scotland in Union.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says that is not for him to rule on and is not a poit of order.

BBCCopyright: BBC

SNP MSP Gillian Martin raises a point of order that Tory MSP Alexander Burnett did not declare an interest.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says this is the responsibility of each individual member. 

The government motion as amended is agreed to with 88 voting for it and 31 voting against it. 

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

The Lib Dem amendment is agreed to unanimously

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

The Labour amendment is agreed to with 88 voting for it and no one voting against it. 

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

The Tory amendment is not agreed to with 30 voting for it and 88 voting against it.

Scottish ParliamentCopyright: Scottish Parliament

We now move to decision time.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says he enjoyed the debate.

Mr Ewing says the CAP payments remains his priority and this will be discussed at the Rural Economy Committee next week.  

BBCCopyright: BBC

The rural economy secretary says he hopes a unanimous decision can be reached tonight.

Mr Ewing says there remains to be serious doubts about funding.

He says he is happy to work with all members and stakeholders. 

He says funding, access to markets and immigration are all issues that need to be resolved. 

Tory MSP Maurice Golden says this has been an engaging debate. 

Mr Golden says just 8% of people successfully achieve their New Year resolutions, responding to the rural economy secretary's opening promise that working with all the parties is his.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The Tory MSP says leaving the EU presents an opportunity to cut bureaucracy and red tape in rural economy policies. 

Mr Golden says the priority should be getting the best deal for the UK. 

He says the "CAP payment fiasco is still not fully resolved".

bbcCopyright: bbc

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says she is glad this debate took place as time is tight as many of the decisions will take place soon.

Ms Grant says MSPs are united around supporting our rural communities going forward.

She says we need access to the single market for our farmers and rural companies.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says it would have been helpful if members took interventions because it is a debate.

Mr Rumbles says Tory MSP Edward Mountain talked about mountains and made some very good points about all stakeholders being involved. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

The Lib Dem MSP says this debate is already about funds and what funding Scotland will receive.

He says this is putting "the cart before the horse" and, at this stage, the debate should be about how the funds will be delivered to rural communities. 

Mr Rumbles says if the government get this wrong then it will cause divisions in those communities.

BBCCopyright: BBC

SNP MSP Mairi Evans says we need to continue fighting for fair funding for the rural economy.

Ms Evans says fishing and agriculture are important to Aberdeenshire and the North East economy.

She says if policy and funding is to change then the various stakeholders affected have to be involved.

bbcCopyright: bbc

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says funding for rural development and agriculture is vitally important.

Mr Ruskell says the repatriation of powers from Europe to Scotland will go some way to protecting Scotland from the hard Brexit announced this week.

He says a commission for the future of rural devlopment must be broad and the parliament has just approved the Scottish Land Commission.

The environment and rural economy budgets both grew in both cash and real terms in the draft budget, according to SPICe.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing told MSPs that the key priorities in his area were reforming farm payments, developing the food and drink and forestry sectors, supporting fishing and and improving digital connectivity.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Mr Ewing also highlighted a substantial increase in funding for peatland restoration, from £2m to £10m - something which was also praised by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham during a meeting of the environment committee.

Ms Cunningham told members that climate change, flooding and land reform were the key priorities in the environment budget, noting that budgets were "protected" for these areas. She added: "I hesitate to use the word 'increased', because the likelihood of a great deal of extra money suddenly being around is pretty remote."

BBCCopyright: BBC

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson says there will be difficulties in agreements with 27 other countries.

Mr Stevenson says we have to have better relationships with Europe.

The SNP MSP says we are not clear that the prime minister has the same priorities as the Scottish government for the rural economy.