Mr Dey says the Press Gazette has published a Johnston Press classification of its titles, with its newspapers falling into four categories, uber, primary, core and sub-core. 

He says the following Scottish titles have been marked as sub-core.: 

• East Fife Mail 
• Galloway Gazette 
• Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra 
• Midlothian Advertiser
• Arbroath Herald 
• Buchan Observer 
• Carrick Gazette 
• Deeside Piper 
• Ellon Times 
• Hawick News 
• Linlithgow Gazette 
• Mearns Leader 
• Selkirk Weekend Advertiser
• Buteman and Angus County Press Weekly 

He says the Press Gazette has stated that Johnston Press has shed half of its journalists since 2009, and expresses concern at the decline in fortunes of traditional, local papers and the impact that this is having on journalistic employment.

The SNP MSP says communities still care about local newspapers.

Mr Dey says a message must be sent  to Johnston Press that "we will fight for our local newspapers'.

Mr Dey uses his motion to celebrate the importance of local newspapers to communities across Scotland. 

The SNP MSP says a well-resourced, diverse, free press is vital to democracy in Scotland and provides a type of coverage not available via other platforms. 

Image source, Thinkstock

The Angus South MSP is concerned the trading update made by Johnston Press on 19 January 2016 in which it states: 

"A number of brands have been identified that are not part of its long-term future, as they fall outside its selected markets, do not match the audience focus, or do not offer the levels of digital growth sought by the Group. A process has been initiated to explore the sale of these assets to identified parties"

Mr Dey gets the debate underway stressing the importance of local newspapers to Scotland. 

That ends first minister's questions.

SNP MSP Graeme Dey will now lead a member's debate on the importance of local newspapers. 

Mr Fraser says the report had worrying news for the Scottish economy.

He says Scottish GDP per capita is now 1% lower than the rest of the UK.

The Conservative MSP asks how a tax raid on Scottish businesses will help.

Ms Sturgeon says the increase in the Large Business Supplement is lower than it was in 2007.

The economy has grown for three years continually now, she says.

Scottish firms have seen growth remain "in low gear" at the start of the year, according to the monthly survey of managers for Bank of Scotland. 

It found jobs were being shed in both services and manufacturing, partly due to the long-awaited rise in pay rates. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Another survey of business confidence, published on Monday, found it at a three-year low. 

And it found that managers were evenly split over whether growth would have slowed six months from now. 

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser raises the issue of the latest Bank of Scotland's Purchasing Managers' Index. 

Green MSP Patrick Harvie says Scotland will be more exposed to the risks of the decline in the oil and gas industry if it does not accept that it is happening.

Mr Harvie calls for an acceleration of decommissioning.

The first minister says she disagrees and premature decommissioning must be avoided.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says the UK government must not be a barrier to the fiscal regime of the oil and gas industry.

Ms Marra says decommissioning is an urgent priority and calls for support for Dundee.

The first minister says she will give consideration to Ms Marra's specific proposals.

Ms Sturgeon says a city deal for Dundee is under consideration. 

She warns that premature decommissioning must be avoided.

Image source, bbc

Nearly 150 oil platforms in the UK North Sea are expected to be scrapped over the next 10 years, according to industry analysts. 

Of all the decommissioning over the next 25 years, more than half is likely to take place between 2019 and 2026. 

The estimate, from Douglas-Westwood, takes account of the fall in the price of oil. It suggested this will result in many oil fields in UK waters, including the North Sea, becoming uneconomic. 

Labour MSPJenny Marra asks what the Scottish government's position is on Douglas-Westwood's forecast for North Sea decommissioning until 2040.

Ms Sturgeon says the UK government plans will have a catastrophic on the most vulnerable.

The Scottish government is concerned about these proposals. 

There are now real concerns about refuges across Scotland, she adds.

SNP MSP Clare Adamson asks the first minister what the Scottish government's position is on the impact in Scotland of planned UK reductions to housing benefits for vulnerable people who stay in supported and women's aid refuge accommodation.  

Mr Rennie says this afternoon the parliament votes on the income tax resolution, one penny gives £475m for Scotland's children.

The first minister says she cares about people on low wages and Willie Rennie's policy of putting a penny on the rate of income tax would have everyone earning above £11,000 a year paying tax.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie says councils face £500m of cuts.

Mr Rennie says it is not too late for the first minister to call a halt to these cuts.

Ms Sturgeon says if Willie Rennie had picked up the phone to the Conservatives when his party were in coalition with them, this situation may not have emerged.

The first minister says the government will protect teachers numbers in schools, paying the living wage and protecting household budgets. 

Image source, bbc