Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur leads this afternoon's members' debate entitled 'Island Health Boards'

  • Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse says there underground coal gasification has "no place in Scotland's energy mix at this time"

  • The Scottish government lead a debate on the draft BBC Charter

  1. Coming up.............published at 11:33 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    After general questions, we'll bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions, with all the social media reaction as it happens.

    Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse will give a statement on underground coal gasification.

    First Minister Nicola SturgeonImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Image caption,

    We'll bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions from noon.

    MSPs will then debate the draft BBC charter for the rest of the afternoon.  

    First up this morning we will cover the Equalities and Human Rights Committee as it takes evidence from a wide range of civic Scotland.

  2. First Minister's thoughts with Pauline Cafferkeypublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

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  3. That concludes our coverage of the Equalities and Human Rights Committeepublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Equalities and Human Rights CommitteeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Equalities and Human Rights Committee

    That concludes our coverage of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee.

  4. There must be more education around hate crimepublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Scottish Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton asks what can be done to give people more access to justice.

    Rosalind Bragg, Director, Maternity Action, says there is a big difference between justice on paper and actually accessing it.

    Maureen Sier, Director, Interfaith Scotland and Scottish Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton
    Image caption,

    Maureen Sier, Director, Interfaith Scotland and Scottish Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton

    Maureen Sier, Director, Interfaith Scotland says there should be more education around hate crime, what it is, and what can be done by third parties if they witness it.

    Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie says in the short term there is a role for this committee in terms of the human rights act and this will be an important part of the remit. 

    Mr Baillie says adults can still hit children in Scotland and child abuse and children's mental health are a major cause for concern.

  5. People want to see poverty tackled and relationships improved - Church of Scotlandpublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Chloe Clemmons, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer, representing the Church of Scotland
    Image caption,

    Chloe Clemmons, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer, representing the Church of Scotland

    Chloe Clemmons, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer, representing the Church of Scotland says the church have asked people to imagine it is 2035 and it is a fairer and more just society and what should be done by the church to achieve this.

    Ms Clemmons says the answer given by the majority was to improve relationships and tackle poverty.

  6. Semper Scotland delighted to work with ERICpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Sandra Deslandes-Clark from Semper ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Sandra Deslandes-Clark from Semper Scotland

    Sandra Deslandes-Clark from Semper Scotland calls on the committee to focus on the use of positive action, particularly in the police.

    Ms Deslandes-Clark says it is important the success of positive action initiatives is monitored.

    She says retention strategies are a bit thing for the police, to keep ethnic minorities in the ranks.

    Ms Deslandes-Clark says data monitoring seems like a tick box exercise and she says she would be delighted to work with ERIC (the acronym for the Equalities and Human Rights Committee)

  7. 'Deprivation just brings ill health'published at 10:54 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Gozie Joe Adigwe, Senior Eye Health and Equalities Officer for RNIB Scotland says her remit is around prevention of sight loss.

    Ms Adigwe says there is a strong link between sight loss diagnoses and mental health.

    Gozie Joe Adigwe, Senior Eye Health and Equalities Officer for RNIB
    Image caption,

    Gozie Joe Adigwe, Senior Eye Health and Equalities Officer for RNIB

    She says there is the potential of increasing eye health inequality despite the eye exam in Scotland being free.

    Ms Adigwe says there is anecdotal evidence that shows people believe they will have to spend money if they go for an eye test."Deprivation just brings ill health," she says.

  8. Concern for Pauline Cafferkey who has been taken to hospitalpublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

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  9. Call for focus on gypsy travellers who are among the 'most marginalised and most demonised'published at 10:49 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Suzanne Munday from MECOPP Carers CentreImage source, bbc
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    Suzanne Munday from MECOPP Carers Centre

    Suzanne Munday from MECOPP Carers Centre calls on the committee to have a continuing focus on gypsy traveller communities.

    Ms Munday says these remain among the "most marginalised and most demonised communities".

    She calls for better equality data going forward.

  10. Impact of Brexit on EU nationals should be consideredpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Lorraine Cook Policy Officer, Migration, Population and Diversity Team, COSLA, says the EHRC review of public service equality duties is welcome. 

    Ms Cook says public bodies and wider communities should be involved in discussions to tackle poverty.

    She says, in terms of children that identify as non-binary, the transition from school to work is a difficult one too.

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA
    Image caption,

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA

    Ms Cook says the impact of Brexit on EU nationals in the community should also be considered as this is impacting how they feel about their place in the society.

    She says EU nationals bring huge benefits to the economy but do not know what will happen to them post-Brexit. 

  11. Audit Scotland keen to speak to equalities groupspublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Lorraine Gillies from Audit ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Lorraine Gillies from Audit Scotland

    Lorraine Gillies from Audit Scotland says mental health and early learning and child care are priorities.

    Ms Cook says the organisation is keen to speak to people and have dialogue with equalities groups.

  12. Women's poverty in Scotland a particular concernpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Anna Ritchie Allan, Project Manager for Close the Gap says levels of poverty among women is a particular concern.

    Anna Ritchie Allan, Project Manager for Close the Gap
    Image caption,

    Anna Ritchie Allan, Project Manager for Close the Gap

    Ms Ritchie Allan says overall the system is failing at the moment in terms of reducing male and female pay gaps and segregation in the work place.

    She says Close the Gap would welcome a review to better regonise a change for women.

    Ms Richie Allan is concerned about the small number of companies that have signed up to gender equality. 

  13. UCG statement at 2.30pm - extensive coverage from Holyrood Livepublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

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  14. Vulnerable migrant women face 'significant barriers' to accessing maternity carepublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action
    Image caption,

    Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action

    Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action says maternity rights in employment is a big issue.

    She says recent research shows three quarters of pregnant women have experienced discrimination..

    Ms Bragg says there is no problem with the law but more work needs to be done to enforce it.

    She says access to maternity care for vulnerable migrant women is also an issue, with significant barriers to accessing it.

  15. This is a 'major opportunity'published at 10:33 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Judith Robertson Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission
    Image caption,

    Judith Robertson Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission

    Judith Robertson Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission says there is a "major opportunity" in Scotland to do something different with human rights and the committee can play an important role in that. 

  16. Brexit could cost up to 80,000 jobs says reportpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

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  17. Here is the Brexit impact report..........published at 10:30 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

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  18. 'There is the beginning of a feeling of ageism'published at 10:29 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Glenda Watt from the Scottish Older People's AssemblyImage source, bbc
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    Glenda Watt from the Scottish Older People's Assembly

    Glenda Watt from the Scottish Older People's Assembly says mental health is crucial for older people too.

    Ms Watt says older people are saying they are not getting access to treatment.

    She says there is the beginning of a feeling of ageism.

  19. Religious education 'inadequate'published at 10:28 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland, says it is important that young people and poverty has been mentioned and that young Muslims and others from ethnic minority backgrounds are particularly affected by poverty. 

    Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland
    Image caption,

    Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland

    Ms Sier says the committee, government and local government have a duty to promote good relation between all communities.

    She says there must be a structure in place to do this.

    Ms Sier says the education structure is "failing" and religious education "inadequate".

  20. Tam Baillie says the voices of children and young people must be heardpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 6 October 2016

    Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam BaillieImage source, bbc
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    Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie

    Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie welcomes the addition of human rights to the remit of the committee.

    Mr Baillie says the Equalities and Human Rights Committee must ensure human rights is owned across all committees.

    He says the voices of children and young people will help pick the priorities for the committee. 

    The children and young people's commissioner says the top priority must be tackling poverty.