Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Corry asks how the government will fill the reported £21 million cash shortfall faced by Police Scotland.

Mr Ruskell says the police have only prosecuted one person for dog fighting since 1991.

He asks if the government will consider creating a task force to tackle dog fighting.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing says she will receive any information from Mr Ruskell on the issue.

Scottish Conservative MSP welcomes the Dogs Trust to the parliament and the minister agrees. 

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell asks what action the government is taking to detect, prevent and prosecute dog fighting offences.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay calls for an inquiry into the historic undercover policing scandal.

Mr Matheson says he is disappointed the Ptichford Inquiry was not extended to Scotland and is looking into the best way forward. 

The justice secretary says Clare's Law is operating well across Scotland.

The scheme which allows people to be told if their partner has been violent in the past has been introduced in Scotland.

Image source, Handout

It followed a six-month trial in Aberdeen and Ayrshire which saw 22 people warned that their partners had a history of domestic abuse.  

The initiative is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her violent ex-boyfriend several years ago.  

Last week the Courier reported:, external

A whistleblower in Fife claimed morale among local officers was “dreadful” and that the number of staff available to respond to incidents had been “decimated”.

He added: “We’re getting told there’s not going to be a £21 million deficit come April next year, they’re going to be out of money come October or November this year.

“I’ve never seen morale to be so bad.”

Labour MSP Claire Baker raises the issue of low police morale.

Mr Matheson says Police Scotland conducted their first staff survey to provide baselines to improve apon.

He says Police Scotland is taking forward an action plan with the SPA to tackle morale issue.

Mr Golden says the harm of metal theft is well documented with 417 such crimes between April and July.

The justice secretary says the decision on how to prioritise crimes is a matter for the chief constable.

Mr Matheson says there are a range of measures that can be taken forward by the police and local authority to tackle environmental crimes.

Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden asks the government when the justice secretary last met Police Scotland.  

Justice ministers are first in the hot seat for portfolio questions.

Image source, Thinkstock / Reuters

MSPs will then quiz culture, tourism and external affairs ministers.

MSPs quiz justice ministers and then culture, tourism and external affairs ministers during portfolio questions.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish Conservatives will then lead their debate entitled 'NHS Scotland Staffing Crisis'.    

SNP MSP Graeme Dey leads this afternoon's members debate entitled 'Promoting Good Food from Angus'.

That concludes our coverage of the Rural Economy Committee today.

We're back with portfolio questions and then the Scottish Conservatives have the floor to lead their debate entitled NHS Scotland Staffing Crisis.

Phil Verster from the ScotRail Alliance concedes train punctuality has to improve and says he is committed to doing that.

SNP MSP Gail Ross says she was on the train to Wick and her Wi-Fi was not working and asks about that.

Quite a personal question there.

Ms Ross also asks about plans for loops in the North of Scotland which would improve the service from Inverness to Thurso.

Mr Verster says the Far North Line is really, inherently part of the local communities.

He says loops are being looked at and there is no ambiguity about the importance of the Far North Line.

The managing director of the ScotRail Alliance says the ticket prices are down to Transport Scotland.

MSP Jamie Greene asks about passenger concerns around delays and cancellations and what is being done to increase customer satisfaction.

Mr Verster says there is a focus on customer service.

He says all employees have been equipped with mobile phones and apps which collects information on delays so that staff have the information to hand and can give it to the customer.

He says the app will also be available to customers in the future and it is important that this information is accessible.