And that concludes our live coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 28 April 2015.

You can watch the highlights of today's business from Holyrood at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live.

The transport and islands minister says the Scottish government recognises the economic benefit a spaceport would bring to either of the areas behind the two beds.

Mr Mackay says even the weather has been used uniquely to promote the bids.

He says the both bids have immense potential and are wholeheartedly supported by the Scottish government.

Transport and Islands Minister Derek Mackay says he supports both the bid from Prestwick Airport and Campbeltown.

Mr Mackay says the Scottish government is clear it wants the spaceport to be in Scotland, which is why it backs both bids.

Mike Russell SNP MSP argues that it is not Prestwick Airport that should be chosen as the UK's Spaceport but Campbeltown.

He says Machrihanish should serve as the "final frontier", as it meets the required criteria in terms of runway length, coastal proximity and population.

Labour MSP Margaret McDougall says the Prestwick bid team have been very busy in their endeavours to secure the creation of the UK's only spaceport.

Ms McDougall says Prestwick airport is critical to the economy of Ayrshire and if selected as a spaceport it would be a "game changer".

"Prestwick is hands down the best site for a spaceport in the UK."

Adam Ingram, SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley supports Conservative MSP John Scott's position on the Prestwick Airport Spaceport bid.

While the airport itself falls into the constituency of Mr Scott, the spaceport element falls into Mr Ingram's constituency.

Mr Scott concludes saying he urges the Scottish government to support Prestwick Airport as the UK's spaceport.

Mr Scott says Prestwick is the location of choice for a spaceport in the United Kingdom.

Image source, Virgin Galactic

He points to delays at Cape Canaveral due to cloud delay, but Prestwick was selected due to the lack of cloud cover as it is next to Arran.

Mr Scott says Prestwick Airport has been at the forefront of pioneering flight since the first flight at Monkton Meadows in 1913.

The target is to grow our UK space industry in the coming years but the major barrier to this is the lack of a UK based spaceport.

Two Scottish airports are actively bidding to host the UK's first spaceport, according to Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown.

He told MSPs that the operators of Prestwick Airport had a bid team in place.

Image source, Bristol Space Planes

The owners of Campbeltown airfield were also interested in attracting the venture.

Stornoway, Newquay and Llanbedr are also on a UK government shortlist of potential sites.

In his motion Mr Scott says he welcomes the inclusion of Glasgow Prestwick Airport in the shortlist of sites being considered to host the UK's first spaceport.

Image source, AFP

Mr Scott says that the location of a spaceport at Glasgow Prestwick Airport would represent an opportunity to increase the airport's revenue, enhance the reputation of the Prestwick aerospace campus as a centre of excellence and provide a boost for the Ayrshire economy.

The airport should be promoted as Scotland's preferred bidder to be the UK's first commercial spaceport he says.

Image source, Reaction Engines

Conservative MSP John Scott is leading a debate on the Prestwick Airport Spaceport bid.

MSPs back the Scottish government's amended motion from the employability debate, with 54 MSPs backing it and with 13 voting against.

The Labour amendment was passed with 57 MSPs backing it and with 9 voting against and two abstentions.

In conclusion, Annabelle Ewing says the debate has been wide ranging and she will duly consider the suggestions made by MSPs.

The minister says by doing so the government will serve better the people who need help most.

She says the government has a strong track record of getting people into work.

Youth and Women's Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing says she believes in participative democracy and wants to hear from the people trying to get back into work.

Ms Ewing says on the issue of people with disabilities having access to employment, modern apprenticeships are only one scheme available and says the government has funded a number of schemes to assist the disabled into work.

Mr McMahon says there is no doubt employers and educators know the development of skills is vital, they find it difficult to develop the necessary programmes to develop them.

Connecting the separate worlds of work and education will benefit the economy at large, says the Labour MSP.

Mr McMahon says the Scottish government has failed on getting enough disabled people into apprenticeships.

The Labour MSP calls for an early review in the context of Scotland taking over disability benefits, with the expected implementation of the Smith Commission proposals.

Scottish Labour MSP Michael McMahon says the Scottish government should be committing to extend the living wage to procurement and ending zero-hours contracts.

In response to an interjection from SNP MSP James Dornan, Mr McMahon says there is an obvious difference between flexible contracts and exploitative zero-hours contracts.

Scottish Conservative MSP Gavin Brown says he hopes the minister will give answers to the challenges facing the government rather than just criticising others.

Conservative MSP Gavin Brown says the Scottish government's motion is reasonable, but he is unable to support the Labour amendment.

Mr Brown says it might be possible to share apprenticeships if this works for individuals and companies.