Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray welcomes the pledge to de-cluttering the curriculum and addressing the teacher workload.

Mr Gray says there is is no commitment here to protect education budgets.

He says the deputy first minister should commit to protecting education budgets.

Mr Swinney says the government has already made allocations for local authorities and schools based on levels of deprivation.

The education secretary says he is reflecting on the issue of subject choices.

On the issue of early years, he says the government is making provision for the 600 hours of early years child care.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks asks how the funds are going to allocated to the most vulnerable pupils.

Ms Smith also asks about subject choice and parent's concerns that this varies from school to school.

She asks where equity lies when nursery entitlement is not the same across the board.

Mr Swinney concludes saying that closing the attainment gap and raising standards for all – delivering excellence and equity for all of our children and young people - must now be our shared national endeavour.

The minister says the government will invest £1.5 million over the next 3 years to support up to 160 aspiring headteachers every year to benefit from the “Into Headship” programme and nearly £1 million this year in Masters level learning for teachers.

The education secretary launches a review of governance alongside the Programme for Government. 

He says he will develop proposals for a fair and transparent national funding formula to ensure that resources go where they are needed most.

Mr Swinney says the third theme of the plan is to create the right structures to encourage and enable everyone to participate fully in school life - children and young people, parents, teachers and communities. 

The education secretary says doing so represents the biggest opportunity to improve the outcomes and life chances of all our children and young people. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Mr Swinney says the second theme of the plan is the need to ensure the curriculum, applauded by the OECD, can be delivered so that teachers are free to teach and children have the opportunity to learn.

He pledges to de-clutter the Curriculum for Excellence.

Mr Swinney announces his "tangible and deliverable plan for delivering excellence and equity in Scottish education with Parliament":

He says the first and overriding theme is to close the attainment gap between children from the most and least deprived backgrounds

The education secretary says: "We must ensure that every child no matter where they are from or how well off their family is has the same opportunities and an equal chance to succeed."

Mr Swinney says: "Today marks the start of a new journey for Scottish Education - a journey that will ensure we realise our ambition for excellence and equity for every child and young person in Scotland."

Education Secretary John Swinney will now deliver his statement on A Delivery Plan for Excellence and Equity in Education.

Ms Hyslop says if Scotland is to advance its interests in the EU, the options must be identified.

She says we are now in unchartered waters but together "we must find a route forward".

The minister concludes by urging members to think forward to where we want Scotland to be in the future.

The external affairs secretary says there must be direct engagement with EU institutions as well as the UK.

Ms Hyslop says the government is committed to ensuring all Scotland's interests are protected at these difficult times.

The external affairs secretary it is very important the Scottish government explores all the options in relation to the EU.

Ms Hyslop says no-one has any idea what the Brexit plans are and Tory MSP Oliver Mundell's call to wait and see is not good enough. 

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the Scottish government has a responsibility to provide reassurance to the EU citizens that have made Scotland their home.

The minister says she has spoken to the ambassadors of France, Germany and Slovakia and underlined the government's commitment to their citizens.

She says the SNP have always argued the benefits of EU migration.

Mr Carlaw says the fact Donald Tusk has turned down the first minister's call for a meeting does not auger well.

Image source, EPA

The Tory MSP says Ms Sturgeon began preparing the way for IndyRef2 before anyone began eating their breakfast on Friday.

He warns the SNP not to focus on IndyRef2 and says the first minister should be in London not on a bus tour of Europe.

Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw says few decisions taken by an electorate will have such a profound impact, as the EU referendum.

Mr Carlaw says he accepts the result but he shares the dismay the first minister expressed on Friday.

He congratulates the first minister for her efforts for the Remain campaign, but he says the Scottish party with the largest percentage of its members voting Leave was hers.

Mr Carlaw adds to Mr Corbyn's troubles by accusing him of shockingly bad leadership.

He says Kezia Dugdale should "stew in the shame of her own juices" after the performance of Jeremy Corbyn.