Ms Somerville says there has been progress made on widening access but there is more to be done.,.

The minister says achieving fair and equal access to higher education is critical and she accepts the need to accept all the Commission on Widening Access's recommendations.

The first minister acknowledged there is "work to do" last week after statistics showed a fall in the number of 18-year-olds from Scotland's poorest areas going to university.

But Nicola Sturgeon insisted it was "quite simply wrong" to suggest progress was not being made.

She was speaking at first minister's questions after the figures were raised by Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

The data was released by university admissions body Ucas.

It showed that 1,215 applicants from the most deprived 20% of areas were awarded a university place last year, down from 1,305 the previous year.

Ms Somerville says the government will not impose tuition fees, not upfront nor through the back door.

The minister says how fees would help widen access to college and universities is baffling to her. 

Ms Somerville points to Scotland's achievements in research which she says have come about by the strong relationships between the Scottish government, universities and businesses.

The minister says: "Colleges and universities are delivering for team Scotland".

In March a commission 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 set out a series of targets, including ensuring that pupils from the 20% most deprived areas make up 20% of Higher Education entrants by 2030.

Image source, ANNAELIZABETHPHOTOGRAPHY

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

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

• Read the full report, external

Ms Somerville points to an investment of £1.5bn colleges and universities combined.

The minister says:"This government retains the believe that education is a public good."

Further Education and Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says this is her first ministerial outing and her first speech since her enforced absences and pays tribute to her predecessor Labour MSP Cara Hilton.

Ms Somerville says the government places a high value equally on colleges and universities.

The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'The Contributions of Colleges and Universities to Scotland’s Success'. 

Here's Further Education and Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville's motion. 

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says he "warmly welcomes" the targets being met but asks how the Scottish government proposals to slash APD will help reduce transport emissions.

Ms Cunningham says there is a balanced decision to be made here and the government is making that decision as carefully as it can.

Ms Cunningham says there have been cuts from Westminster that have affected funding.

The minister says without the UK hampering the Scottish government there would be an £13.3m increase in the budget.

She says there will be an environmental assessment ahead of the proposed cut to APD. 

Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell welcomes the release of the figures, but says it is clear quirks in accounting have led to a met target after five years.

Mr Ruskell calls for a real terms increase in funding to tackle climate change.

He also calls for a commitment to ending the proposed cut to Air Passenger Duty.

Scottish Labour MSP Claudia Beamish welcomes the announcement and the meeting of the targets.

Ms Beamish asks about the RPP3 and call for more research in the future.

The minister thanks Ms Beamish and accepts there needs to be engagement right across the board in order to move forward.

She says there was a reduction in emissions at source.

Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden says most of the reduction occurred before the Scottish Climate Act was passed in 2009 and asks for more ambitious targets and sector specific targets.

Ms Cunningham says she would have hoped for a slightly more enthusiastic response from the Conservatives.

The minister says the government is willing to look at increasing the targets but she wants to set targets that are realistic and achievable.

The minister says: "The statistics published this morning are excellent news for Scotland and for everyone who lives here. 

"They show that through the drive and determination of this Government and by the actions of people, communities, organisations and businesses all around the country, we have met the 2014 emissions reduction target and exceeded the  2020 target for a 42 per cent reduction, six years ahead of schedule."

This Government remains absolutely committed to tackling climate change and to delivering the bold actions needed to meet our targets. 

The minister says she is writing to the Committee on Climate Change today, seeking their advice on Scotland’s future targets in response to the Paris Agreement.

Image source, SPL

Ms Cunningham says "these ambitious new targets will serve as a statutory impetus to further action". 

She also announces that the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change has been reconstituted.

Ms Cunningham says the government intends to raise still further its ambition on climate change and to continue to lead the world in the transition to a low carbon economy. 

She says that is why the first minister has already confirmed our plan to establish a new and more testing 2020 target.     

The climate change secretary details progress made: 

• on energy efficiency, the share of homes rated EPC band C and above has increased by 71 per cent since 2010, and by 11 per cent in the last year
• on renewables construction on the £2.6 billion Beatrice Offshore Windfarm will commence later this year
• the Scottish government’s 2020 target for 500 Megawatts of local and community owned renewable energy capacity has also been delivered five years early

After exceeding the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Scotland is making outstanding progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"These statistics show that we not only met the annual 2014 emissions reduction target but also exceeded the level of our world-leading 2020 target for a 42% reduction, six years ahead of schedule.  

"The reduction in residential emissions in 2014 may have been due to people turning down their heating. This underlines that small individual actions, if repeated on a large scale, can have a big impact in tackling climate change

"This is an especially important time for climate change, in light of the international agreement reached in Paris last December and it is great news that Scotland continues to show ambition and demonstrates the progress that can be made.

"We will continue to rise to the challenge and the first minister has already confirmed that the Scottish government plans to establish a new and more testing 2020 target. We are not complacent and we will continue to take action and encourage others to do their bit to tackle climate change."

The cabinet secretary says Scottish emissions in 2014 were down by 12.5% from 2013 and down by 45.8 per cent from baseline levels. 

Ms Cunningham says  even without past revisions both the annual 2014 and interim 2020 targets would still have been met.

Ms Cunningham says: "Not only has the annual target for 2014 been met, but we have exceeded the level of our interim 2020 target six years early."