The Scottish Greens manifesto pledged to create 200,000 jobs in oil and gas decommissioning, renewables and housing. 

• Read the Scottish Greens manifesto, external
• At-a-glance: Scottish Green Party manifesto
• Brian Taylor on the Scottish Green manifesto launch

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell takes to his feet to speak for the first time in nine years.

Mr Ruskell says he is "delighted and humbled" to be back. 

He says there will be finely balanced parliamentary maths in this session.

Anyone for Green powerbrokers? Six MSPs at least spring to mind.

Mr Ruskell welcomes the move by the government on young carers and the pledge to create a social security system based on dignity. 

SNP MSP Sandra White says the phrase that stands out on her party's agenda is "equality of opportunity"

Ms White says she is proud to be a part of a government that stands for this principle. 

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says there is no future for Scotland as a low skill, low wage economy.

Mr Griffin says the future in hi-tech industry is crucial as are science skills leading to stem skill jobs.

He says three problems must be addressed by the SNP: 

• stubborn attainment gap must be closed
• barriers to women in science must be removed
• college cuts must be reversed

Image source, BBC, Thinkstock

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson welcomes initiatives supporting mother's back to work and helping children back to school.

Mr Stevenson says it is interesting how different schools are in rural to urban areas and that rural teachers and pupils appear to have a closer relationship. 

The SNP MSP says education in rural areas is changing with pupils not only learning in the classroom but also online.

He says superfast broadband for these areas is extremely important. 

Unusually for an election manifesto, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson pointed out that she has no chance of winning the election and becoming first minister.

Instead, she described the manifesto as her application for the job of providing strong opposition to the SNP.  

• Read the Scottish Conservative manifesto, external
• Scottish Conservative manifesto at-a-glance
• Brian Taylor on the Scottish Conservative manifesto

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser says he welcomes Mr Swinney's announcement on teacher workload.

He says Mrs Fraser will be delighted that teacher workload will be reduced under Mr Swinney's, leading one to assume she imparts knowledge to youngsters for a living.

Image source, bbc

The Tory MSP says the economy performed poorly last year and unemployment is worse in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.

Mr Fraser says Scottish ministers must take some of the responsibility for this and they can no longer hide behind the mantra of not having enough powers. 

The manifesto promised to invest £750m in education, with a focus on helping pupils from deprived backgrounds.

• Read the SNP manifesto, external
• Follow the BBC's Philip Sim at the manifesto event, external
• See the manifesto at-a-glance
• Brian Taylor on the SNP's manifesto launch

SNP MSP John Mason welcomes the commitment from the government on 50,000 affordable homes.

Mr Mason says increasing the affordable homes stock will cover a range of issues including giving children a suitable home and place to study. 

He says he fully supports the named person's policy as it gives vulnerable people a clear path of where to go for help.

The SNP MSP says sectarianism is an issue which must be discussed before dismissing the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act out of hand.

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Image source, PA

Let me bring you a few lines from the first minister's statement at Holyrood. Here's one. "We will consider the introduction of a young Carers' Allowance…….this is a proposal that was in the Green Party manifesto. I think it has real merit…"

Here's another. "This work will be led by a new, dedicated minister for mental health - a key ask of the Liberal Democrat manifesto".

And here's a third. "We will examine a proposal in the Labour manifesto to extend the minor ailments service…."

The astute among you - and that includes all readers of these musings, ipso facto - will have spotted the gap. No place for the Conservatives.

That fits Nicola Sturgeon's thinking - which is to the effect that the Tories may yet be squeezed out in a parliament where, she argues, there is potentially "a clear progressive majority".

Mr Swinney says he has already taken the first steps to reduce the workload of teachers and allow them to concentrate on delivering the education for the children of Scotland.

The education secretary commits to "building equity and excellence in Scottish education".

Mr Swinney says he will publish the Assessment and National Qualifications Group and adhere to its recommendations in full which commit to a reduction in the workload of teachers.

Image source, Thinkstock

Education Secretary John Swinney says: "We must get it right for every child in Scotland."

Mr Swinney says the government is focused on closing the attainment gap.

This will be done by: 

• doubling of provision of early learning and child care
• empowering school communities to close attainment gap for good
• ensure every child has same chance to progress

The Scottish government announced it is convene a "major summit" of education leaders in a bid to close the attainment gap between schools.

Nicola Sturgeon underlined education and the economy as her top priorities in a speech at Holyrood yesterday.

Image source, Pa

The first minister said her ministers aimed for "real and lasting progress towards true equality of opportunity".

Opposition parties said they would work with the government on education, but urged "genuine reform".

• Look back on Nicola Sturgeon's address to Holyrood and reaction to it

Image source, bbc

That concludes the debate on the EU referendum.

But fear not we're back with  the continuation of the debate on Nicola Sturgeon's programme for government from 2pm.

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop says this chamber rises to the occasion when the big issues are tackled and praises the maiden speeches made by new MSPs across the chamber.

Ms Hyslop says the EU has brought peace and prosperity, as evinced during the debate.

The external affairs secretary says there are serious trade concerns that would arise from Brexit.

The SNP MSPs insists minimum unit pricing has not been blocked and goes on to say there is a strong civic case for Scotland's EU membership.

Ms Hyslop says the voices of Scotland have been brought into the chamber today.

Scottish Conservative MSP John Lamont says like many others in the Remain camp, he does not pretend the EU is perfect.

"But on balance I believe the prime minister has negotiated a better deal."

Mr Lamont says remaining allows access to the Common Market with a seat at the top table, rather than Brexit which would not.

He accuses the SNP of hypocrisy for backing one union (the EU) but rejecting another (the UK).

The Tory MSP says the case for remaining in the EU is practical not emotive, citing jobs, trade and the economy.

Scottish Labour's external affairs spokesperson Lewis Macdonald says this is "one of the most critical decisions our generation will face".

Mr Macdonald says Labour backs Remain due to the need for shared endeavour.

He says there is a need for reform of the EU to protect against austerity.

The Labour MSP says he rejects the free movement of workers is a burden, but must go hand in had with workers' rights.

Mr Macdonald says the wider the reach of progressive legislation the harder it is for corporations or government's to win a race to the bottom.