The Scottish Parliament is expected to make "a clear, unequivocal statement" in support of the UK's membership of the European Union.

External affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop will call for cross-party support for the Scottish Government's motion of support for the UK's EU membership.

With four weeks to go until the EU referendum, Hyslop will highlight the EU's promotion of workers' rights, human rights, trade and investment, and action on climate change.

Speaking ahead of the debate, the external affairs secretary said: "There are only 28 days until the polls open for the EU referendum, and although opinion polls show strong support among the people of Scotland to stay in the EU, there is no room at all for complacency.

"There are so many ways in which the EU benefits us in our everyday lives that it is easy to forget where these benefits originated from, and over the next four weeks we must speak up and speak out about these benefits.

"Whether it's preventing the exploitation of workers, improving opportunities for young people to work and study abroad or the significant leadership the EU has shown in tackling climate change, the EU has a positive legacy of achievement in which we should be proud to have played our part.

"Access to the single market of 500 million people, with an estimated 300,000 Scottish jobs associated with exports to the EU, offers Scotland incomparable trading opportunities which are key to our future economic prosperity."

Hyslop added: "I am asking Parliament to unite behind a clear, unequivocal statement that whatever our political backgrounds, we believe Scotland and the UK should stay part of the European Union."

Scottish Vote Leave said a Holyrood vote backing Remain would be "out of step with many Scots".

Conservative MSP and spokesperson for Scottish Vote Leave Ross Thomson said: "I am disappointed that the Scottish Government, who have always argued for more powers for Scotland, are not using the opportunity presented by this once in a generation referendum to take back powers over fishing, farming, transport and the environment by supporting Vote Leave"

"At the moment the unelected commission are not accountable to voters for the decisions they make over these areas.

"Voting leave can put these powers in the hands of MSPs, and if they perform poorly they can be turned out of office by voters. That is impossible to do with EU bureaucrats.

"The EU is also not a free club to join. The UK is the second highest budget contributor to the EU budget and Scotland sends £1.55bn a year to Brussels.

"If we leave we can spend it on our own priorities such as the NHS, schools, roads and designing a system to support our own farmers."

Thomson added: "Parliament is entitled to make its view known but on this issue, but I do believe it will be out of step with many Scots.

"I will be working over the remaining weeks to talk to as many voters as possible to explain a positive argument for voting Leave - to take back control and make Scotland a freer and fairer place in which to live."