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BBC Director General Tony Hall and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop gave evidence on the charter renewal
Topical questions featured the bird flu outbreak in Fife, emissions testing in our cities and Hawick Knitwear going into administration
There was a ministerial statement on flooding from the deputy first minister
The Scottish government led a debate entitled Delivering a World Class Education System
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald used his motion to debate the Scottish Local Shop report launched by the Scottish Grocers' Federation
That concludes Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 12 January 2016.
We'll be back with the Public Audit Committee tomorrow morning, as it looks at the Scottish Police Authority and the integration of health and social care.
Image source, Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
Until then, have a lovely evening.
Mr Ewing says convenience stores contribute much to the employment of young people in a "Saturday job" that inculcates the work ethic in them.
The business minister says when regulations are passed on tobacco and alcohol it is important to bear in mind the impact on those who run convenience stores.
Business Minister Fergus Ewing praises convenience stores
The SNP MSP says there is an enormous contribution to charity by the sector.
He says this explains why convenience stores are regarded as the second most popular retail business in the country.
The minister thanks all the owners and staff for their enormous contribution to their communities.
Business Minister Fergus Ewing says over 40,000 jobs are sustained by the convenience store sector.
Mr Ewing says the sector has half a billion pounds or more in turnover.
The minister stresses the "enormous contribution" to the communities they serve and the economy.
Mr Ewing says business rates are a necessary contribution to Scotland's finances and convenience stores contribute enormously.
He stresses the importance of the Small Business Bonus and his hopes that it is embedded in the rating system.
Scottish Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says large supermarket chains lower prices to attract customers and this affects small businesses.
Mr Macdonald says this drives local stores out of the market altogether.
The Labour MSP says the illegal tobacco trade also adversly affects these stores but thankfully police and HMRC are working to tackle this problem.
SNP MSP David Torrance congratulates the Scottish Grocers Federation for publishing its Scottish Local Shop Report.
Mr Torrance says it is important to acknowledge the economic benefits convenience stores bring.
Image source, Kirkcaldy 4 AllKirkcaldy 4 All
The SNP MSP says Kirkcaldy For All promotes his consitutency town centre as an inviting place to go.
Conservative MSP Cameron Buchanan praises the work ethic of those who work in convenience stores across Scotland.
The Tory MSP says many work over 70 hours a week.
However he calls for flexible working arrangements to be available as well.
Mr Buchanan says the personal service available in convenience stores is very admirable.
SNP MSP George Adam says welfare reform will cost Paisley £1million per year.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP George Adam
Mr Adam says there are a number of convenience stores in his constituency and they can help our town centres thrive because customers can go in for various items.
He says many of the stores are run by families who know the locals and the town centres lose something if these stores close.
SNP MSP James Dornan praises the Scottish Grocers Federation on its report.
Image source, bbcRonnie Barker as Arkwright in Open All Hours
Mr Dornan also praises many convenience stores for being "open all hours", unlike the shop run by Ronnie Barker's Arkwright in the BBC sitcom.
Scottish Labour MSP Margaret McCulloch says there are well over 40,000 jobs in convenience stores in Scotland.
According to the report 25% of people say they visit convenience stores everyday says the Labour MSP.
Ms McCulloch says all members should read the report as it promotes social interaction and being involved within the community.
The Labour MSP says retailers large and small will be interested in how the government are going to rejuvenate some town centres.
Mr MacDonald says everything is not rosy and there are some problems that need addressed.
Convenience store proprietors in the gallery
The SNP MSP says parking problems outside stores cause loss of passing trade.
He says the rise in rent rates for some units is also causing problems for proprietors.
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald welcomes those from the Scottish Grocer's Federation who are in the gallery.
Mr MacDonald says some retailers are going through a difficult times with online shopping.
He says this has not necessarily affected grocers with both sales and number of shops up last year from 2014.
The SNP MSP say these shops offer convenience for customers with goods.
Mr Macdonald celebrates reports that 87% of independent retailers in Scotland were involved in some form of community activity in the last year and that the sector is highly entrepreneurial.
65% of independent retailers in Scotland being the first person in their family to own or run a convenience store, he says.
The MSP says turnover in the sector grew by 5% between 2014 and 2015, which resulted in a net growth rate of one new shop per week in Scotland.
The Edinburgh Pentlands MSP uses his motion to congratulate the SGF on the launch, at its annual conference, of the first ever Scottish local shop report.
Image source, Getty imagesThere are a greater number of independent convenience stores per head of population in Scotland than in the rest of the UK
Mr Macdonald welcomes the findings in the report that there are a greater number of independent convenience stores per head of population in Scotland than in the rest of the UK and that the sector in Scotland provides 44,332 jobs.
The SNP MSP stresses the importance of convenience stores to communities in Scotland.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald leads a member's debate celebrating the Scottish Grocer's Federation, external launch of its Local Shop Report.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Gordon Macdonald
MSPs pass the government motion from the education debate, with 108 MSPs backing it and ten MSPs against.
They reject both the Labour and Lib Dem amendments.
Ms Constance says the OECD review is a "seminal report".
The education secretary says she concurs with the need for less complexity and more clarity in the Curriculum for Excellence.
Good educational outcomes are required for positive destinations for school leavers
She says there will be no return to the high stakes national testing and league tables of the past.
The minister says current national assessment arrangements do not provide enough robust information.
Education Secretary Angela Constance says she "has never looked at education in Scotland through rose tinted glasses".
Ms Constance says attainment in Scotland in increasing.
The education secretary says she hopes all MSPs accept that it is good news that the number of entrants and passes in highers has gone up since the SNP have been in office.
She says inequity in education is not new, it has always been with us.
Mr Griffin says there must be substantial improvements in the educational outcomes for the disadvantaged.
The Central Scotland MSP says Labour's new 50p tax rate would lead to additional resources to tackle this educational disadvantage.
The SNP's budget again slashes the budget of local schools, he says.
Labour would give money directly to head teachers to help disadvantaged children.
He wants to set a target of reducing the educational attainment gap by half in the next decade.
Labour MSP Mark Griffin says the report card for the SNP after eight years does not make comfortable reading.
Mr Griffin highlights budget cuts, falling teacher numbers and an increasing attainment gap.
He says Scotland is no longer an education world reader and much needs to be done to get us back on track.
The Labour MSP says there needs to be clarity on the standardised testing proposed by the Scottish government.
Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith says traditionally school pupils got the same level of education no matter their class or background.
Ms Smith says the report recommends that the Curriculum for Excellence is reviewed.
Image source, bbcThe Conservative MSP says teachers even struggle to explain in plain English what some of the outcomes in the curriculum for excellence means.
"It's strange very little has been made of the qualification structure" says Ms Smith.