Summary

  • 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

  1. Lib Dems raise concerns about mental health strategypublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Willie Rennie

    Scottish Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie says health campaigners have serious concerns about the new mental health strategy.

    Ms Sturgeon says it is a draft strategy and the health campaigners' views will be taken seriously.

    The first minister says the government will work with these organisations.

    Mr Rennie says the signs are not good enough.

    He says mental health drug use has reached a 10 year high and says the government has let the strategy lapse and the alternatives are not available.

    Ms Sturgeon says there is a great deal of improvement that needs to happen around mental health services.

    She says the strategy is published in draft form to allow engagement with professionals on the front line.

  2. Postpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    More jokes about the rain on social media follow the earlier question about ScotRail

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  3. Patrick Harvie says abortion should not be stigmatisedpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Mr Harvie asks if the first minister agrees abortion should not be stigmatised.

    The Scottish Green MSP asks if there is any other health area where people from Northern Ireland are turned away.

    The first minister says no women should be stigmatised and abortion is a fundamental part of health care.

  4. Safe and legal abortions issue raised by Patrick Harviepublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Patrick Harvie

    Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie says access to safe legal abortion is crucial for women's health.

    Mr Harvie says many women in Northern Ireland have to travel to access safe legal abortions.

    He asks that the NHS in Scotland provide the facilities to these people.

    Ms Sturgeon says she is happy to look into this.

    The first minister says women should have right to choose and when any women opts for an abortion then it should be available in a safe and legal way.

  5. MSP raises issue of long waiting time for cardiac treatmentpublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Conservative MSP Jamie Greene raises the issue of 70-year-old Mr Randall, who he says will have to wait until November 2017 to see a cardiac consultant.

    Ms Sturgeon says she will look into the circumstances of the case.

  6. Shell finance job losses in Glasgow areapublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    SNP MSP Sandra White raises the issue of job losses with Shell's announcement to close finance operations in Glasgow.

    The first minister details the support Scottish Enterprise and the government are providing.

  7. Dugdale urges FM to give an apology to rail commuterspublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Ms Dugdale says commuters would like to hear an apology from the first minister.

    The Scottish Labour leader says last week ScotRail cancelled trains due to fear of excessive moisture.

    She says: "Rain in Scotland, who could have expected that."

    Ms Dugdale calls for a "people's railway".

    Ms Sturgeon says people listening to FMQs will have heard her apology to commuters.

    The first minister says it is easy to make jokes about moisture, but ScotRail makes decisions based on safety.

    She says the SNP had asked the previous Labour government to give the Scottish government the power to create a "people's railway", but it refused.

  8. Postpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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  9. Postpublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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  10. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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  11. Background: ScotRail fined over train and station standardspublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Scotrail

    Last month ScotRail was fined £483,000 for failing to meet required standards for trains and stations.

    Performance inspectors found areas which missed targets included station toilets, ticket machines, train seats, toilets and cleanliness.

    The results follow criticism of the ScotRail Alliance franchise, operated by Dutch firm Abellio, for delayed, cancelled and over-crowded trains.

    ScotRail said the figures showed they "can never stop striving to improve".

    Earlier this month, a petition to strip Abellio of the ScotRail contract was given to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf.  

  12. First minister says ScotRail's performance is not good enoughpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Ms Dugdale says the performance figure for ScotRail yesterday was 79%.

    The Scottish Labour leader says it is up to the Scottish government to fix this.

    She says passengers are fast losing confidence in the transport minister.

    The first minister says the government accepts its responsibility.

    She says ScotRail's performance is not good enough which is why the improvement plan is in place.

  13. Scottish Labour leader says today has been 'another shambolic day' for ScotRailpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Kezia Dugdale

    Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale says this morning Scotland's rail network was thrown into chaos.

    Ms Dugdale says it has been "yet another shambolic day".

    The first minister says she and Transport Minister Humza Yousaf took part in a conference call with ScotRail this morning and she understands passengers frustration.

    Ms Sturgeon says a train broke down between Haymarket and Waverly which is the worst place, according to ScotRail, for it to happen.

    She says ScotRail told her before FMQs services have returned to normal more or less.

  14. Postpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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  15. Postpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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  16. Davidson says the 'SNP are dithering, not delivering'published at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Ms Davidson accuses the first minister of a "massive screeching u-turn" over welfare with a three year delay.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says the "SNP are dithering, not delivering".

    The first minister asks how many own goals Ms Davidson will score, saying the UK government has no clear plan on Brexit.

    Ms Sturgeon says the Tories are saying the Scottish government should take control of welfare powers before it is ready to deliver payments safely.

  17. Background: UK may continue to administer Scots benefits after devolutionpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Wheelchair userImage source, LUKASSEK
    Image caption,

    The Scottish government is to take over delivery of benefits including disability living allowances

    The UK government may continue to administer some benefits for several years after legislative control over them is passed to Holyrood.

    Power over 11 benefits is being devolved, but the UK government could continue to oversee delivery of some until 2020 to "minimise risk".

    Social Security Secretary Angela Constance said the transfer of powers would be complete in the current term.

    However opposition parties claimed the SNP were "terrified" of responsibility.

  18. Sturgeon says there is no delay on transferring welfare powerspublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    The Scottish Conservative leader moves on to welfare and says the first minister demanded welfare powers as soon as possible.

    Ms Davidson says those welfare powers are ready but the SNP are not ready to take them and asks why the delay.

    The first minister says there is no delay on transferring welfare powers, adding the Scottish government has to build a system to safely deliver them.

    Ms Sturgeon says the Scottish government will deliver better social security than the current UK government.

  19. Ruth Davidson raises issue of future of St Joseph's primary in Milngaviepublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

    Ruth Davidson

    Ms Davidson says the construction industry and the oil and gas industry have heard nothing from the Scottish government.

    She says in 2015 she challenged the first minister on giving more autonomy in schools and raises the issue of St Joseph's Primary in Milngavie.

    Nicola Sturgeon says Conservative councillors voted to close St Josephs school.

  20. Postpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2016

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