The Europe Committee hears from witnesses on Norway's membership of the EEA
The first minister apologises to rail passengers in parts of Scotland after a broken-down train in Edinburgh caused severe disruption, during first minister's questions.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin leads this afternoon's member's debate on celebrating flexible working practices
Education Secretary John Swinney updates MSPs on issues relating to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry
The government lead a debate on Scotland’s Innovation Centre Programme and how it is driving innovation in the country
Image source, bbcSNP MSP and Education Committee convener James Dornan asks for more detail on how other countries approach redress.
Mr Swinney says redress schemes in other jurisdictions take a number of different forms.
He says the survivors Scotland Fund is available at the moment and he earlier highlighted the consultation on redress.
Labour MSP Iain Gray asks for assurances that the decision to have two panelists instead of three won't slow down the inquiry.
Mr Gray says Mr Swinney has not extended the inquiry remit and has not brought any further survivors into its remit.
Mr Swinney says he is confident the timescale of the inquiry will not be extended.
The deputy first minister says he has clarified the remit of the inquiry.
He says he has clarified the point that the abuse of children and young people in care is to be taken into account, wherever it occurred.
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Image source, bbcScottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith
Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks if Mr Swinney is wholly satisifed there has been no government interference and that the survivors are happy about this.
Mr Swinney says it is not up to him to comment on behalf of the survivors of the inquiry.
He says this should be an independent inquiry and he believes that will be the case.
Mr Swinney closes by thanking survivors for their continued input and engagement.
He says he recognises the importance of building their trust and confidence.
The deputy first minister says he remains committed to addressing the issues identified in the SHRC Action Plan on Justice for Victims of Historic Abuse of Children in Care and says real progress has been made in delivering its recommendations.
Mr Swinney says it is clear that there is not unanimity on the remit issue across survivors - some are strongly in favour of no change, and others are strongly in favour of extensive change.
He says it has always been the government's intention that the abuse of children and young people in care is to be taken into account, wherever it occurred, and he says he wants to put that matter beyond any doubt.
The education secretary says he has amended the Terms of Reference to clarify this point.
Mr Swinney says: "That is the only change I intend to make to the remit of the Inquiry."
Image source, Scottish governmentLady Smith has been a judge for the past 15 years
Senior judge Lady Smith has been appointed as the new chairwoman of the Scottish government's child abuse inquiry.
It follows the resignation of Susan O'Brien QC, who quit the post earlier this month citing government interference in the inquiry.
A second member of the three-person panel, Prof Michael Lamb, also resigned over similar concerns.
The inquiry will examine historical allegations of child abuse in Scotland.
Image source, Scottish governmentMs O'Brien and Prof Lamb, right, both quit the inquiry, leaving Glenn Houston, left, as the sole remaing inquiry member until Lady Smith's appointment
It is expected to last four years, and will look at the extent of abuse of children in care and identify any systemic failures.
But it has been criticised from the start by survivors of abuse, and was left with Glenn Houston as its only panel member after both Ms O'Brien and Prof Lamb resigned within days of each other.
Mr Swinney says the current remit of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry was arrived at following extensive consultation and engagement with survivors and other interested parties.
The deputy first minister says: "As a result of this, we broadened the definition of in-care settings within the remit to include, for example, foster care, and we also ensured that the Inquiry was able to consider not only sexual abuse but also physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect."
The deputy first minister says he does not intend to appoint a replacement panel member for the inquiry.
He says he is not required to consult Lady Smith on that issue, but he considered it appropriate to do so, and she is content with the decision.
Mr Swinney insists he does not accept the accusations of government interference in the inquiry's work.
Education Secretary John Swinney says in 2010 the Scottish government invited the Scottish Human Rights Commission to work with survivors on a Framework for Justice and Remedies for Historic Abuse of Children in Care.
Education Secretary John Swinney
He says the government has established one of Scotland’s most wide-ranging public inquiries into the abuse of children in care, establishing a national In-Care Survivor Support Fund, supporting an Apology Law, and legislating to create a National Confidential Forum for in-care survivors.
Image source, Andrew CowanMr Swinney said he had personally spoken to Lady Smith about extending the remit of the inquiry
Earlier this month John Swinney told MSPs he was "considering" extending the remit of the Scottish child abuse inquiry.
The education secretary said he had discussed the matter with the inquiry chairwoman Lady Smith, amid criticism from abuse survivor groups that the remit of the investigation is "fixed".
Mr Swinney said he was "wrestling" with the issue as an extended remit would "inevitably" prolong the inquiry.
The probe of historical allegations of abuse is expected to last four years.
The inquiry, external, which is tasked with investigating the nature and extent of abuse of children in care in Scotland, has been dogged by problems from the outset.
Education Secretary John Swinney will now update MSPs on issues relating to the Scottish child abuse inquiry
Image source, bbcEducation Secretary John Swinney will update MSPs on issues relating to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry
At 2.30pm the Education Secretary John Swinney will update MSPs on issues relating to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
The Scottish government will then lead a debate on Scotland’s Innovation Centre Programme and how it is driving innovation in the country.
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Image source, ThinkstockMr Hepburn says the government's commitments are underpinned by its labour strategy which attempts to address low pay and gender-imbalance.
He says there is also the business pledge.
The employability minister says it is clear that employees with continually seek out more flexible working practices.
Image source, bbcEmployability Minister Jamie Hepburn
Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn says this is not just an agenda for women but also for men.
Mr Hepburn says it is increasingly challenging to find the right balance between work and home and it is making workers increasingly stressed.
He says it is not just parents that need support, it is also those who care for adults.
The employability minister says it remains the case that more women than men have carers duties and their continues to be a gender-imbalance in pay which the government are attempting to address.
Image source, bbcScottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour
Scottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour says everyone, everywhere seems to be busy.
Mr Balfour says pressures are placed on relationships by families not being able to spend time together.
The Tory MSP says flexible working practices plays a significant part on work, health life balance.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Ruth Maguire says flexible working can mean a number of things such as location, hours and part time or shifts.
Ms Maguire says organisations that have fair and safer working hours enjoy more productivity.
The SNP MSP says stresses do not begin and end at work.
She says flexible working cannot fix all of life's annoyances but can help make things a little easier.
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