International Development Minister Alasdair Allan says in Scotland we are fortunate to live in a country where our human rights are generally respected.

Mr Allan says all of us are under a moral obligation to respond to the UN's call to respect all people and Scotland has answered that call.

The minister says 1250 Syrian refugees have been settled in Scotland and 29 local authorities have now received refugees in their areas. 

Image source, afp

French authorities have begun moving 1,500 migrant children from the Calais "Jungle" camp, a week after demolition began.

Two buses carrying the first minors left the area at 08:30 local time (07:30 GMT).

The unaccompanied children will be taken to reception centres around the country.

They had been living in converted shipping containers, hoping to travel to the UK.

But the French authorities have now given them documents saying no further applications for transfer to the UK will be handled in Calais.

International Development and Europe Minister Alasdair Allan says he is honoured to lead this debate and mark International Migrants Day 2016 which takes place this Sunday.

Mr Allan says he is happy to highlight the contribution migrants make to Scotland and says this has become more important since Brexit.

Image source, bbc

He says today we should focus on what protection can be provided to migrants and refugees.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks for an update on what the Scottish government is doing to help children from the closed camp in Calais.

Mr Allan says the Scottish government stands ready to do its share and more.

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan uses his motion to highlight the UN's International Migrants Day on 18 December 2016. 

Mr Allan pays tribute to the refugees and migrants who lost their lives trying to reach safety. 

The minister welcomes the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of those who have chosen to make Scotland their home. 

He says the Brexit vote has impacted migrants here and says they are welcome in Scotland. 

Mr Allan urges the UK government to guarantee the rights of fellow EU nationals to live and work here and calls on a fair and sensible immigration system that meets Scotland's needs.   

Here is the Scottish government motion

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Five most common nationalities:

• Poland - 86,000
• India - 16,000
• Republic of Ireland - 16,000
• USA - 15,000
• Pakistan 11,000

The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'Welcoming International Migrants in Scotland'.

SNP MSP James Dornan says we want a world leading education system.

Mr Dornan, who is the Education Committee convener, asks Mr Swinney to outline the evidence that young people are making progress with the Curriculum for Excellence.

The education secretary says there is more data which shows a marked improvement. 

Mr Swinney says there is a variation in the data between areas and that should be a focus. 

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott calls for reform of the government's education quangos.

Mr Scott finds 30 new improvement activities and asks how this will reduce bureaucracy.

Mr Swinney says he accepts the government's role in the Curriculum for Excellence.

The education secretary says the delivery of the C of E is done in a partnership approach.

Scottish Greens Co-convener Patrick Harvie asks if moving towards standardised testing goes against the government's promise to allow teachers to be more in control.

Mr Swinney says he believes teachers will welcome more information to drive forward the government's agenda for improvement.

The education secretary says he is not interested in league tables. 

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney says he has consolidated into one document the measures required to be taken on improvement.

Labour MSP Iain Gray says he welcomes the increase in the number of teachers, but points out that since 2007 we are 4,000 teachers down.

Mr Gray says there are frameworks and plans but what we need is a promise to stop the cuts.

He calls for an apology to parents and teachers for the last 10 years.

Mr Swinney says he is glad Mr Gray welcomes the increase in teacher numbers  this year.

The education secretary says Labour want a free hand to reduce teacher numbers.

Mr Swinney says the information on individual schools allows a focused discussion on how best to move forward and improve education.

The education secretary says there must be excellence and equity in education.

He says the number of teachers in schools has increased.

Conservative MSP Liz Smith says the attainment gap is as wide as ever.

Ms Smith asks why some local authorities are doing better than others.

She asks if this is not more evidence of the problems with the Curriculum of Excellence. 

Ms Smith says parents have a right to be angry.

The education secretary says today's statistics confirms what was known about the attainment gap, which is why the government is taking the steps it is.

Mr Swinney says the early progress on closing the attainment gap is being maintained by Pisa.

Mr Swinney says we have hundreds of thousands of good students being taught by tens of thousands of good teachers in thousands of good schools.

The education secretary says the OECD recognised the strong characteristics of our education system.

He says the government are on course to deliver the improvements required and MSPs must work together to do so. 

The Scottish government is facing a call to clarify why it wants a shake-up in the way schools are governed.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) recently held a discussion on plans to give head teachers more powers.

A report on the meeting notes some concerns which may need to be addressed. One point made is that the "over-riding rationale is unclear".

Image source, JEFF J MITCHELL

The government said attainment improved when parents and communities become more involved.

The report sets out the issues raised in the discussion, which involved a number of stakeholders and experts. The RSE itself does not necessarily share or endorse these views.

The Scottish government is reviewing how schools should be governed. It wants to try to give schools more powers - the aim is to help head teachers find the best ways to raise attainment locally.