Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from opposition leaders and backbench MSPs shortly. She will start the session with her short daily update on the latest statistics.

A total of 3,213 Scots deaths have been linked to Covid-19, official figures show.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures indicate 415 people died in the week ending 10 May, a decrease of 110 from the previous week.

The figures are higher than the daily figure announced by Nicola Sturgeon because they include all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

More than half (57%) of deaths occurred in care homes, though this is down from 60% last week.

People living in the most deprived areas of Scotland were 2.3 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those living in the least deprived areas.

It's Wednesday so we will get the latest weekly figures published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), external showing the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Scotland.

These weekly figures give us insight into the true picture on deaths.

Last week's statistics indicate that the number of people dying from coronavirus has fallen for the first time.

• Scotland sees first weekly fall in virus deaths

Image source, Getty images

The NRS statistics show that by Sunday 3 May there had been 2,795 coronavirus deaths in Scotland, whereas Public Health Scotland (PHS) had reported 1,571deaths by this date.

The figures are higher because they include all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

The PHS figures are based on the deaths of those who had tested positive for the virus.

Image source, PA Media

We're expecting Prime Minister's Questions to begin in about 20 minutes, with Boris Johnson set to face Labour's leader Sir Keir Starmer for the second time following Johnson's recovery from coronavirus. Follow updates here.

While we wait, here are the latest headlines from around the UK:

• The UK economy shrank at the fastest pace since 2008 in the first three months of the year
• People in England who cannot work from home are being encouraged to return to their workplaces, as the UK government begins to slightly ease some lockdown restrictions
• The approach in Scotland remains unchanged: 'Stay At Home'
• People living in the poorest parts of Scotland have a higher rate of confirmed cases of coronavirus

• Travel firm TUI has pledged to"reinvent the holiday in 2020", but it has warned of up to 8,000 job losses amid the pandemic
• And millions of self-employed people can apply for grants from the government from today

Image source, Police Scotland

Police in Dumfries and Galloway say they have been dealing with a spate of "extremely disappointing" fire-raising incidents in recent weeks.

The latest was at at the back of a property on Wilson Place at Heathhall in Dumfries on Monday - the second in the area in a matter of days.

There have also been incidents in the Troqueer and Lincluden areas of Dumfries as well as at Sanquhar and Kelloholm.

Area Commander Stephen Stiff said it was "extremely disappointing" at such a time and appealed for help in tracing those responsible.

Here's where to find the latest advice in Scotland...

1. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

2. Ready Scotland, external

Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

3. Citizens Advice Scotland, external

Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

4. Business Support, external

The latest advice and support for businesses.

5. Parent Club, external

Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

6. Clear Your Head, external

Scottish government advice on how to improve our mental health at this difficult time.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19): public use of face coverings, external

The Scottish government advises face coverings should be used in supermarkets and on public transport.

8. Helpline for those at high risk of coronavirus:0800 111 4000: 9am to 5pm

12pm: Weekly NRS Covid-19 statistics are published

12pm: WESTMINSTER: Prime Minister’s Questions

12.20pm: HOLYROOD: First Minister’s Questions: Preceded by a statement from Nicola Sturgeon in lieu of a media briefing

2.15pm: HOLYROOD: Ministerial Statement: COVID-19 Update: Lord Advocate

2.45pm: Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill:Stage One debate of the latest emergency legislation to address the pandemic in Scotland

5pm: UK government Coronavirus Briefing

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Are you one of a growing army of five to niners following in the footsteps of the likes of Jennifer Anniston, Michelle Obama and Richard Branson? More and more people are getting up early to get stuff done before the rest of the house awakes.

Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast.

"Getting up early doesn't make you a better person, it's just the best time of day to get things done before everybody else needs something from you at work or at home."

Jo Da Silva, company director

"I've always been an early bird. I get cracking with the day as soon as I get up. There is peace and quiet to get on with things. It's purely my own time."

James Wilson, author of The Sleep Geek

"We tend to view larks as more productive but my experience is that successful people work out who they are and what sleep pattern works best for them."

Image source, Getty Images

The self-employed income support scheme, external went live this morning.

It started at 08:00 BST, with another group opening up at 12:00, and it will be staggered until until 18 May to prevent website overload, although there is no deadline for claims.

If you haven't received information from HMRC yet, then check their online eligibility tool - all you need is your UTR and NI number.

You must make 50% of your earnings from self employment - and it is only for those earning under £50,000 profit.

Those without a 2018-19 tax return are not eligible, but there is a grant available for the newly self-employed.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Image source, Getty Images

The impact of the pandemic on the rural economy will be "significant, deep and long-term", Fergus Ewing says.

But he insists the government is addressing these challenges "head on".

The support is designed to address hardship and help individuals navigate the crisis, rather than compensate for the loss of income caused by Covid-19 he explains.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Image source, Getty Images

Bus services in rural Scotland should increase to maintain social distancing on public transport, an MSP from the south of Scotland has said.

Christine Grahame, who represents Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale, made the suggestion to Scotland's transport secretary at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee.

She said: "While it's laudable to get people back walking and cycling, with the huge distances in rural areas I think we may even need to, in some respects, increase bus services in rural areas if we're going to have people 2m apart on buses."

Michael Matheson said it was important to manage the demand on transport and encourage people to work locally and remotely where possible.

He said: "The new normal will involve people looking at different arrangements, including their work arrangements, to try reduce the demand on public transport in both rural and urban areas."

Image source, ONS

The Office for National Statistics figures released on Wednesday show what the body called a "widespread" decline across the manufacturing, services and construction sectors.

Here are some of the headline figures:

• Construction fell by 2.6% while wholesale and retail trade fell by 3%
• Accommodation and food services output declined by 9.5%.
• Most manufacturing sectors contracted with transport equipment dropping 9.9% and motor vehicle manufacturing falling 16.3%.
• Education, fell by 4.0% as a result of school closures.
• But pharmaceuticals grew by 9.2% and there was a 1.4% increase in information technology services, reflecting demand for remote working.

Image source, Getty Images

Musicians are being urged to send in their best musical impressions of Beethoven for an online project in Aberdeen to celebrate 250 years since the composer's birth.

With venues closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) wants piano players to submit recordings of their performances.

It is hoped that by December a collection will have been made of at least one performance of each of Beethoven's sonata movements. They will be collated and shared.

Performances can be sent to beethoven250@aberdeenperformingarts.com, external

Image source, SWA

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee is now taking evidence from Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing.

The focus will be on the Scottish government's response to the Covid-19 outbreak in sectors like food and drink and in rural parts of Scotland.

Image source, BBC/Scottish Parliament

MSPs will also quiz:

• Allan Gibb, sea fisheries, Scottish government
• George Burgess, food & drink, Scottish government
• Gerry Saddler, chief plant health officer for Scotland & head of science and advice for Scottish agriculture (SASA), Scottish government

Read the committee papers here., external

Faisal Islam
BBC Economics Editor

The UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has acknowledged it is “very likely” the country is already in the middle of a significant recession, after the publication of first quarter GDP figures showing one of the sharpest declines on record for the UK economy.

He said the 2% decline was “not a surprise” and the numbers underlined why the government had taken “unprecedented action” to support jobs, incomes and livelihoods” at a time of severe disruption.

On the reality that the UK has been in recession for four months, Sunak said recession was "defined technically" as two quarters of decline in GDP.

"We've seen one here with only a few days of impact from the virus, so it is now yes very likely that the UK economy will face a significant recession this year, and we already in the middle of that as we speak,” he said.

Asked about the leak to the Telegraph of an internal Treasury options paper which contained dire numbers for the UK deficit, and a view that a rapid “V-shaped” recovery was “optimistic”, the chancellor said that it was “too early to speculate” but “what we do know is in order to make sure that recovery as swift and as strong as we will like it to be, we need to take action now to protect people's jobs and support businesses through this time.”

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Distribution companies in Scotland are in danger of losing out on business as English companies get back to work, warns David McCutcheon, CEO of Bullet Express.

"A lot of businesses in Scotland rely on businesses in England to make their money," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "If we can't open at the same time, then those people in England will look elsewhere.

"Most hauliers in Scotland will do probably 60-70% of their work in England. We can't really get started until all the freight arrives from down south.

"The customer supply chain is going to become a big thing if this continues."

House of Commons
Parliament

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Mr Matheson highlights safety arrangements already in place on buses and trains, including:

• more carriages or using double deckers where demand requires
• enhanced cleaning
• seats being sealed off on buses

Image source, EPA

Operators have taken steps to acquire PPE for staff but further work is needed on this, the transport secretary concedes.

He says there has not been a significant increase in rail demand in Scotland so there is not a need to increase services as has happened in England this week.

But he confirms this will be watched to ensure capacity is ready to meet demand when it does increase.