Kayleigh Thorpe, Campaigns and Policy Manager for Enable Scotland says they have conducted research showing that those with learning disabilities feel alone and not included at school.

Ms Thorpe says parents of children with learning difficulties believe their child is being informally excluded from school by not being able to take part.

She says this causes isolation and exclusion from society. 

Image source, bbc

James Morton from the Scottish Transgender Alliance says mental health is a major issue.

James Morton says reform of the Gender Recognition Act to make the process easier and to introduce self declaration.

The Scottish Transgender Alliance representative calls for 16 and 17 year olds to be able to change gender on their birth certificates and under-16s to be able to do so with parental consent

James Morton calls for recognition of non-binary genders and to allow people "to remove the F and the M from their documents".

"At the moment non-binary people are generally ignored."

Committee Convener Christina McKelvie asks what areas should be targeted and what ideas do the witnesses have as to what the committee should do with its remit.

Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Policy and Research Manager for LGBT Youth Scotland says she welcomes the Mental Health Act but believes equalities and human rights should be stronger within that.

Ms Dennell says she wants to know how the government are going to tackle equality and discrimination

She would like to see non-binary gender recognition particularly for those under-18.

After a wee delay Equalities and Human Rights Committee convener Christina McKelvie gets proceeding underway by introducing the numerous witnesses.

The Equalities and Human Rights Committee, external will now get underway, with a huge cast list of witnesses.

Here they are: 

• Lorraine Gillies from Audit Scotland, external;
• Children and Young People's Commissioner, external Tam Baillie
• Anna Ritchie Allan, Project Manager, Close the Gap, external;
• Lorraine Cook from COSLA, external;
• Maureen Sier from Interfaith Scotland, external;
• Brandi Lee Lough Dennell from LGBT Youth Scotland, external;
• Kayleigh Thorpe from Enable Scotland , external

Image source, RNIB, LGBT Youth Scotland, the Children and Young People's Commissioner and Close the Gap

• Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action, external;
• Suzanne Munday from MECOPP Carers Centre, external;
• Judith Robertson the chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, external;
• Glenda Watt from the Scottish Older People's Assembly, external;
• James Morton from the Scottish Transgender Alliance, external;
• Sandra Deslandes-Clark from Semper Scotland, external;
• Gozie Joe Adigwe from RNIB, external.

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 6 October 2016.

We'll bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions, after general questions.

The lunchtime debate is on island health boards.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

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

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.