Labour MSP James Kelly asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to improve the pay of workers in the hospitality sector.  

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser asks the government what support it provides to employers in the care sector to help them pay the living wage.

Ms Cunningham says real progress will only come with business organisations and unions working together to promote change.

SNP MSP Mark McDonald asks whether the government will provide an update on the Fair Work Convention., external

Ms Smith says the report is clear that not nearly enough is being done with relevant data.

Fair Work, Skills and Training Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says she will raise the matter with Education Secretary Angela Constance.

The cabinet secretary says that will be a key issue to be looked at if the SNP is reelected to government.

A commission has set out 34 recommendations aimed at getting more pupils from deprived backgrounds into higher education in Scotland.

The Commission on Widening Access, external was set up by Nicola Sturgeon in 2014.

Its final report sets out a series of targets, including ensuring that pupils from the 20% most deprived areas make up 20% of Higher Education entrants by 2030.

It also calls for a Commissioner for Fair Access to be appointed.

The report has suggested that university admission thresholds should be lower for students from the most deprived backgrounds than for those from the country's wealthiest areas.

Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks what the government's response is to the recommendations in the final report of the Commission on Widening Access , externalregarding improving skills among the workforce.  

Mr Buchanan says the cuts to colleges have hit older learners harder.

He asks what steps the Scottish government is taking to help the over 25's with training.

Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing says the government focuses on full time equivalent courses.

She says the MA programme can support over 25s .

Conservative MSP Cameron Buchanan what training opportunities the government offers people over the age of 25.

Developing the Young Workforce is a seven-year programme, external that aims to better prepare children and young people from 3–18 for the world of work.

This programme builds on the foundations already in place as part of Curriculum for Excellence.

The programme’s headline aim is to reduce youth unemployment by 40% by 2021.

SNP MSP Mike MacKenzie asks whether the government will provide an update on the Developing the Young Workforce programme. , external

Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the Scottish government recognises the difficulties facing the oil and gas industry.

The minister highlights the work of the Energy Jobs Taskforce and other government initiatives.

A new £12m fund to help people who face losing their jobs in oil and gas to gain new skills and find new work was announced last month by the Scottish government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Transition Training Fund should help keep expertise in the energy sector, or in related roles in manufacturing.

She said job losses were "distressing".

The fund will offer grants for individuals to acquire specialised skills or further training.

SNP MSP Christian Allard asks what training and support the government provides to people no longer working in the oil and gas sector. 

Youth Employment Minister Annabel Ewing thanks Mr McGrigor for tweeting his supplementary question yesterday.

Ms Ewing says Skills Development Scotland are always available to discuss individual cases.

Plans for a new qualification which aims to give young people the professional skills needed to succeed in the workplace have been announced by Education Secretary Angela Constance.

The "professional baccalaureate" will be developed with professional bodies, employers and the education community.

It will teach "technical, professional and core skills" that can be used in the workplace, according to ministers.

A focus will be placed on key sectors such as engineering and technology.

High school students can already study for baccalaureates in science, languages, expressive arts and social sciences.

Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor asks the government how it supports apprenticeships.

At 11.00am this morning the Scottish Parliament will be invited to observe a Europe wide one minute’s silence as a mark of respect to those affected by the attacks in Brussels yesterday. 

Image source, bbc

That ends the water safety in Scotland debate.

We'll be back at 11am when Parliament will observe a minute's silence following the Brussels attacks.