Alison Johnstone says residents in Scotland's tenements have had a "welcome break" from short-term lets and associated anti-social behaviour.

With all holiday accommodation reopening from next week, she asks if the government will share the scientific advice that says it is safe to expose vulnerable people who live in tenements to "unregulated and out of control" businesses.

The first minister says her government is taking great care over all decisions, adding that none are easy.

"Anti social behaviour is not acceptable at any time and must be tackled by the relevant authorities," adds Nicola Sturgeon. "Anyone using an Airbnb property needs to follow the same set of rules that I've clearly laid out today as the rest of us."

Image source, Getty Images

Green Party co-leader Alison Johnstone says she warmly welcomes the decision to fully reopen the childcare sector from next Wednesday but wants to know if it will mean children will be able to move between childcare settings.

That rule is not changing immediately, says the first minister, who stresses that it is under review, stressing that the advice up until now is that it is not safe to do so.

Nicola Sturgeon says she would hope to see it changed within the next couple of weeks.

Ms Johnstone says the lack of clarity on the issue is threatening the viability of many childminding businesses.

Image source, Getty

Richard Leonard turns to yesterday’s statement by the UK chancellor announcing the kick-start jobs scheme and wonders if the first minister shares his concerns that "this will deliver low-paid, part-time employment for just six months in a scheme that cuts off everyone over the age of 24 when what we need are jobs for good".

The Labour leader points out that it was announced last week that the Scottish government would introduce its own jobs guarantee scheme and asks if this will last more than six months and if those on it will be paid the living wage as well as full-time jobs or training.

Nicola Sturgeon replies that: “The principles Richard Leonard outlines are ones we apply across all of our interventions. That is important to us.

“I do share some of his concerns about the chancellor's announcement, but I hope it can play a part in a more comprehensive jobs guarantee scheme."

However, she adds that it is important there is a particular focus on young people because "the challenge of youth unemployment is likely to be greater than generally".

Labour leader Richard Leonard claims that Menzies Aviation is “a company continuing to claim 100% business rate relief from the Scottish government while at the same time attempting to fire and rehire its own workers with their terms and conditions slashed by almost a half”.

Meanwhile, 800 Swissport jobs out of 1,000 in Scotland are at risk and he urges the Scottish government to work with trades unions and not just owners and operators to make business rate relief conditional on good employment practices.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies that: “There has been a collapse in demand for international air travel. I hope to see that recover as we come out of the Covid crisis, although we also have climate change responsibilities we have to meet as well.

“We will work with all companies to do whatever we can to protect jobs and I will listen to any practical suggestions that anybody wants to make.

“But we have been absolutely clear that any company, not just through this crisis but generally, that is in receipt of public funding should have fair work practices in everything they do.”

Labour leader Richard Leonard points out that, in June, the Scottish government announced it was establishing a working group to protect jobs under threat at Rolls Royce in Inchinnan and would work closely with trades unions.

However, he claims there is concern that the working group does not include one Rolls Royce trades union representative and, on their behalf asks what has been done to secure the 550 jobs under threat.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies that: "If there is a concern about the membership of the task force, we will try to address that.

"There is no interest for the Scottish government not to have everybody involved in a collective effort."

She says she personally spoke to Rolls Royce's chief executive a few weeks ago and points out that a group has been formed with the company to see what can be done to protect jobs.

"Rolls Royce is facing a challenge globally because of a fall in demand for what it does and we cannot magic that away, but we have committed to what could be done in the short-term and long-term," she says, adding that the focus is on "re-purposing" the facility.

Scotland needs "prompt and ambitious action" from the government to rebuild the country, says Jackson Carlaw.

He asks: "Rather than complaining about what she can't do again, will the finance secretary set out what she can do and must do for Scotland?"

The most important thing is providing a "sustainable basis" for the recovery, argues the first minister, adding that: "Right now, Scotland is being successful in tackling and suppressing this virus".

We need to continue that approach, she says, in order to build that sustainable basis.

Nicola Sturgeon then insists that the chancellor's £30b spending plan "falls short of what many other countries are doing", adding that since the UK government "hold the vast bulk of the economic levers" they have a responsibility to deliver "a response that is commensurate with the scale of the challenge".

She says her government will continue to apply "whatever consequentials there are" in a way that supports Scotland and will "look to see what we can do to add to that response".

Jackson Carlaw quotes the Scottish Aviation Alliance saying the decision to not include Spain on the list of nations that quarantine will not apply to as "a blow".

He asks if it would be possible to exempt the Canaries and Balearics, where the prevalence of Covid-19 is lower than it is in Scotland.

Image source, EPA

The first minister says she is "particularly interested" to hear a Conservative leader talk about applying different arrangements in a country where rates of the virus vary.

She says she understands how difficult this is for aviation and tourism but at the moment there is not sufficient data to break Spain down into separate regions.

Nicola Sturgeon adds that she hopes that picture will develop and that may allow a more targeted approach.

Mr Carlaw describes that reply as "a bit disappointing" and points out "there is a thousand miles of water" between the Spanish islands and the mainland.

Image source, PA Media

Jackson Carlaw wants to see the SNP follow the chancellor’s lead on stamp duty (Land and Buildings Transaction tax in Scotland) for the sake of householders and tradesmen - and to give the wider economy a welcome boost.

The first minister says her finance secretary will outline her response to the UK government's plans later this afternoon.

Nicola Sturgeon says every penny in interventions is welcome but stresses the need to be careful about the impact of such a move on first time buyers in this instance.

She says the kickstart scheme for young people goes "part of the way" to aiding a proposed job guarantee scheme for 16-25-years-old that is currently being considered by her government, saying she wants to "go further and deliver something of scale and ambition".

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw has a question on the government's decision to put a commitment to free childcare "on hold", saying the news will be "a deep disappointment" to parents and will impede people getting back to work.

Mr Carlaw would like to see a review of the decision take place before December, as has been promised.

It is not on hold, replies the first minister, who says a "re-evaluation of the timescale is inevitable", given the circumstances around the coronavirus crisis and the current strain on local authorities, which will lead the policy.

"We will look for all opportunities to accelerate progress," she insists, stressing that it is a "flagship commitment" for her government.

The first minister will make a further statement to Parliament on 30 July.

Ms Sturgeon says: "This is undoubtedly a time for cautious hope. Scotland has made great progress in tackling COVID."

However she says "this is also a time of real danger", with the easing of lockdown leading to greater risks from the virus

"We mess with it at our peril."

She calls for great caution and for all public health advice in FACTS, external and at NHS Inform to be followed.

And so perhaps more than ever, now is a time for great caution.

She concludes: "Now is not the time to drop our guard.

"Let’s all keep doing the right things - to keep ourselves safe, protect others and save lives."

The first minister reiterates: "It is our ambition and intention that schools will return full time in August."

Ms Sturgeon goes on to tell the chamber: "Today’s statement marks the most significant milestone yet in Scotland’s emergence from lockdown. "

She says all the changes rely on Scotland keeping the virus under control.

Ms Sturgeon says eliminating virus as far as possible now - ahead of the almost inevitable challenges we will face come winter - remains the objective.

She warns the Scottish government will not hesitate to reimpose restrictions if it considers it necessary to halt the spread of the virus and save lives.

The first minister says there other activities which are included in phase three of the route map that we are not yet able to attach a specific date to.

Image source, EPA

It should be assumed at this stage that these other activities will not restart before 31 July, although this will be kept under review:

• the reopening of non-essential offices and call centres
• the resumption of outdoor live events
• the reopening of indoor entertainment venues such as theatres, music venues and bingo halls.
• the opening of indoor gyms, and the resumption of non-professional adult outdoor contact sports

Image source, PA Media

The next set of changes will take effect from 22 July:

• Personal retail services which have not yet reopened – for example beauticians and nail salons – will be able to reopen with enhanced hygiene measures in place.
• Universities and colleges can implement a phased return to on-campus learning, as part of a blended model with remote teaching.
• Motorcycle instruction - and theory and hazard tests - can also resume from that date but driving lessons and tests in cars will have to wait longer

From 15 July places of worship can also reopen for communal prayer, congregational services and contemplation.

Numbers will be strictly limited:

• Two metres physical distancing will be required
• There will be a requirement to collect the contact details and time of attendance of those entering a place of worship
• Given what is known of transmission risks, singing and chanting will also be restricted
• Restrictions on attendance at services and ceremonies for funerals, weddings and civil partnerships will be eased
• However numbers will be even more limited than for worship generally and physical distancing will be required
• Associated gatherings – such as wakes or receptions - must continue to follow the limits on household gatherings and hospitality.

Image source, PA Media