BBC News Parliaments

MSPs have completed the amending stage of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.

Government amendments to cut controversial plans to hold more trials without juries were unanimously agreed.

However proposals from the Greens to strengthen protections for tenants from eviction were voted down.

And votes on cutting back government plans to extend deadlines for Freedom of Information requests came back tied despite all opposition parties backing them, meaning the amendments fell on the presiding officer’s casting vote.

The parliament will now move to the final debate on the bill before members vote it through.

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah has called for a "Digital Parliament" to be set up during the coronavirus lockdown.

She has received the backing of more than 100 fellow MPs in asking the Clerk of the House of Commons John Benger to move the work of Parliament online.

She said MPs "must lead by example" at the same time people were being told to maintain social distancing and stay at home.

Mr Yousaf says the government is working in a spirit of compromise and consensus and adds "we understand how vital the principle of trial by jury is".

The justice secretary says the proposal to have trials without juries is proportionate, but does not have the support of this chamber and he is aware of the concerns of the profession.

"Accordingly I intend to move an amendment at Stage 2 which will remove that section of the bill."

Assembly Members' pay is to be frozen for six months due to the "exceptional circumstances" of the coronavirus pandemic.

The independent panel which decides AMs' pay said their base salary, before extra responsibilities such as being a minister are taken into account, should remain at £67,649 until October.

The payments had been due to go up by just under £3,000.

The Remuneration Board said: "Many workers in Wales will have been adversely affected by current circumstances, because either they have become unemployed or are in receipt of a reduced salary.

“The board believes that allowing the indexed salary rise to take place in such circumstances would go against its principle that decisions must be appropriate within the context of Welsh earnings and the wider financial circumstances of Wales."

The board said it would decide before October whether it is "appropriate or not" for AMs to have a mid-autumn pay increase.

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