We'll shortly bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions, including all the social media reaction to the political clashes.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Last year the Evening Times interviewed, external the manager of the "notorious hostel the Bellgrove Hotel", which has been described by politicians as a "Soviet gulag" and a "modern-day poorhouse". 

Manager Joe McKee admited the complex he had overseen for two decades was "the bottom rung of the ladder" but told the Evening Times the former homelessness outreach worker insists much of the criticism was undeserved. 

Image source, Evening Times

The imposing building in the Gallowgate currently houses around 140 men aged between 30 and 80-years-old and is the last of the large-scale hostels in the city. 

East end MSP John Mason has described conditions as "grim, Dickensian, like a Soviet gulag", while Scottish Parliament colleague Anne McTaggart called it a place that "epitomises deprivation and squalor - in every sense, it is a modern-day poorhouse". 

SNP MSP John Mason asks the Scottish government what recent discussions it has had regarding the homeless hostel, the Bellgrove Hotel. 

SNP MSP James Dornan asks what steps the government is taking to improve prisoners' access to education. 

Health Secretary Shona Robison says the government is in regular contact with Edinburgh Council about social care.

Ms Boyack says people are dying waiting for social care.

Ms Robison says she deeply regrets anyone having to wait longer than necessary to receive their care package.

The health secretary says Edinburgh has received an additional £8.19m from the integrated care fund and details further funding.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks the Scottish government when it last discussed social care with the City of Edinburgh Council. 

Environment Minister Aileen McLeod says well designed forests can provide flood mitigation.

Ms McLeod says the plantation forestry in the Highlands will absorb 1.4bn cubic metres of water.  

SNP MSP Rob Gibson asks how much surface water plantation forestry absorbs from surrounding water courses and rainfall in the Highlands per annum. 

Labour MSP Paul Martin asks what action the government is taking to improve health in the east end of Glasgow. 

Local Government Minister Marco Biagi says the future of local taxation is under consideration and before the end of the parliament the government will present its plans.

The current council tax system in Scotland "must end", the specially set up Commission on Local Tax Reform has concluded. 

It looked at alternatives and outlined three options, one based on property, the others on land and income. 

The cross-party body believed any new system should continue to be one of "general tax" rather than a "system of charges for specific services". 

Scottish councils typically raise 15p of every pound spent from council tax. 

Independent MSP Jean Urquhart asks whether the government will provide an update on the action that it is taking to take forward the proposals of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Skills Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the government is working with public sector partners to address skills issues in the computer sector.

Ms Cunningham says the colleges have long acknowledged the need for computer skills and they have a significant role to play in prioritising suitable courses.  

SNP MSP Willie Coffey asks what the Scottish government is doing to encourage and develop skills in computer programming. 

That ends our coverage of the European and External Relations Committee.

Image source, bbc

General questions is next and then we'll bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions, including social media.   

The European and External Relations Committee will now consider the Brussels Bulletin.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

According to the Scottish Parliament website, the Brussels Bulletin, external is a fortnightly publication produced by Scotland Europa on behalf of the Committee. It provides intelligence on those key EU policy themes which are likely to dominate the European policy agenda as it relates to devolved matters in Scotland. The key policy areas are:

• Europe 2020
• Cohesion Policy
• The Stockholm (Justice) Programme
• Energy & Climate Change
• Agriculture and Fisheries
• Multi-Annual Financial Framework

Image source, bbc

The key policy themes were agreed by the European and External Relations Committee following consultation with other Scottish Parliament committees on the European Commission Work Programme (CWP)  

Committee convener Christina McKelvie thanks the witnesses for their "excellent contribution" as the evidence session draws to a close.

  The committee is suspended for five minutes.   

Niels Engelschiøn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo says it is in Norway's interests for the UK to stay in the EU. 

Dáithí O'Ceallaigh from the Institute of International and European Affairs and former Irish Ambassador to the UK says the Irish government will be as helpful as it possibly can to Mr Cameron.

He says Ireland wants the UK to stay in the EU.

Image source, AP

Mr O'Ceallaigh says he thinks the prime minister will be successful in his negotiations, although there are some difficulties.

The former Irish Ambassador says he thinks the European members will help Mr Cameron. 

Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor asks what challenges would the UK face joining EFTA or the EEA.

Mr McGrigor asks what the time-scale for joining both would be.

Professor Dr Andreas Auer LL.M. from the Universities of Zurich and Geneva says Switzerland is in discussions about joining the EEA.

Joining the EEA would be better or worse for the UK which ever you prefer says Prof Auer.

Knut Hermansen from the Norwegian Mission to the EU says if the UK joined the EEA on teh EFTA side, it would change the balance of power.

Mr Hermansen says there would be more conflicting interests due to the size of the UK.