Scottish minister pushes for UK-wide online knife sales crackdown

Summary

The Health Committee takes evidence on Scotland's Healthcare Improvement Plan and the Transplantation Bill
The US travel ban and the Joint Ministerial Committee on Brexit are raised during topical questions
The Scottish government issue a response to the independent review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Bailey Gwynne
The Scottish government lead a debate on celebrating Scotland's year of history, heritage and archaeology
SNP MSP Graeme Dey leads this evening's member's debate on Scotland's veterans

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison, Colin Bell and Patrick Cowling

Labour MSP says all sources of funding can be significant in maintaining Scotland's heritagepublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, Lakesmere
Image caption,
Kelvin Hall opened initially as an exhibition centre in 1927
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says direct employment of professional archaeologists is at risk under the current climate.
Mr Macdonald says the Heritage Lottery Fund plays a substantial role.
Ms Hyslop says quite often funding from the Scottish government comes early or late for a project.
She cites the case of the Kelvin Hall.
Mr Macdonald says he recognises that and he understands government cannot support every project.
He says all sources of funding can be significant.
Scottish parliament has the power to impose a tourism levypublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says the government has a responsibility to make sure organisations are properly resourced to participate in the 2017 celebrations.
Mr Macdonald says local authorities oversee many of the museums involved.
He says the Scottish parliament now has the powers to impose a tourism levy.
Image caption,
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald
Call for support for VisitScotlandpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, VisitScotland
Image caption,
VisitScotland
Mr Stewart pays tribute to VisitScotland, external and the work they do.
The Tory MSP also pays tribute to Historic Environment Scotland, external.
He calls for support to be given to VisitScotland and also adequate funding.
Unique opportunity to celebrate Scotland's pastpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image caption,
Tory MSP Alexander Stewart
Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says there has been a decline in visitor numbers since 2009 and it is important to continue to encourage people to visit Scotland.
Mr Stewart says communities and organisations have taken on board the theme of celebrating Scotland's history.
The Tory MSP says there is a unique opportunity to celebrate Scotland's past.
Here is the Scottish Conservative's amendmentpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Visitors come to Scotland's events from all over the worldpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, Thinkstock
Image caption,
Edinburgh Castle
Ms Hyslop says there is evidence from Visit Scotland that visitors come to Scotland's events from all over the world.
She say many visitors say they visit stately homes, churches and castles.
The culture secretary says events will form a key element of the programme for the year.
She encourages members to not only visit their local events, but also to travel further afield.
'Scotland has many hidden gems to find and explore'published at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, ED MILLER
Image caption,
Outlander
Ms Hyslop says: "Scotland has many hidden gems to find and explore."
Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says slow and ill-informed decisions regarding the planning process can impact on Scotland built heritage.
Image source, NICK BRIGGS
Image caption,
Based on a series of bestselling books, Outlander has filmed across various Scottish locations
Ms Hyslop says she acknowledges there are challenges but parallel process can address them.
She says 50 million people claim Scottish heritage and she highlights the success of Outlander in encouraging people to explore their Scottish past.
The minister highlights the importance of the clans in promoting Scotland.
Postpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
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Postpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
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Postpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
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Winter festival events provided a 'fantastic opportunity' to celebrate our historypublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image caption,
Edinburgh winter festival
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says this years' winter festival events provided a "fantastic opportunity to celebrate" our history.
Ms Hyslop says there have been several free events, open to all.
The culture secretary says the government has funded events at grass root level.
She says there has been a 12% increase in those visiting Scotland for events compared to in 2012.
Ms Hyslop says it is not all about our iconic buildings and architecture but there are many hidden gems.
Postpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
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Background: Eventspublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Events to celebrate the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017 include:
- Edinburgh's Georgian Shadows: The story of Edinburgh's New Town will be revealed using lighting in inventive, creative ways in February and March.
- Scotland in Six: Scotland's six world heritage sites will be celebrated with dawn-to-dusk events to mark World Heritage Day on 18 April.
- TradFest: This feast of of folk arts will kick-start the summer season at venues across Edinburgh during April and May.
- Paisley's International Festival of Weaving: Cultural activities and performances will celebrate Paisley's roots, beginning on 1 July.
Image source, Visit Scotland
Image caption,
Models' faces were painted with some of Scotland world heritage sites as the 2017 line-up was launched
- Purvai: A festival celebrating Scotland's historical links with south-east Asia, at An Lanntair arts centre in Stornoway.
- Follow the Vikings roadshow and festival: Shetland will host two weekends of Viking performances and re-enactments in September.
- HorsePower: A celebration of Scotland's equine heritage at Falkirk's Helix Park - home of the Kelpies, on 9 September.
- The Mary Queen of Scots Festival: The Kinross area will be home to a festival involving living history encampments, music, food and drink in September.
- Shining Lives: A sound and light projection event in New Lanark world heritage site in the autumn.
This debate shines a 'spotlight on Scotland's fascinating history, heritage and archaeology'published at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, bbc
Cultre and Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop says this debate allows the shining of "a spotlight on Scotland's fascinating history, heritage and archaeology ".
Background: Unique events to celebrate Scotland's past in 2017published at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, Visit Scotland
Image caption,
The Forth Bridge will be the focus of festivities on World Heritage Day in April
Scotland's past will be celebrated in a series of unique events to mark the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017.
World heritage sites, ancient monuments, cultural traditions, myths and legends will be the focus of the 12 month long programme.
VisitScotland said it would throw the spotlight on some of Scotland's greatest assets and its hidden gems.
The line-up was unveiled by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop in Edinburgh in December.
Celebrating our past debate beginspublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Here is the Scottish government motion
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Combating knife crime guidance will be for all 32 local authoritiespublished at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Education Secretary John Swinney
SNP MSP Clare Adamson asks what steps Mr Swinney will take to ensure there will be a whole Scotland approach to the guidance.
Mr Swinney says the guidance will be for all 32 local authorites.
Question on the success of violence reduction programmespublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks what revisions have been made to violence reduction programmes following Bailey Gwynne's death.
Mr Swinney says the violence reduction programmes have been successful and statistics show that.
The education secretary says the government continues to work with stakeholders to reduce incidents in schools.
Mr Swinney says he hopes to work with the UK government to combat knife sales onlinepublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
SNP MSP John Swinney
SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks when the cabinet secretary hopes to hear from the UK government on the issue of online knife sales.
Mr Swinney says the government will wait some time yet and he hopes to work with the UK government.
Police will be called if pupils refuse to comply with searchespublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Tory MSP Douglas Ross asks if the recommendation that Police Scotland be notified of such instances has been included because there is a concern this is not happening.
Mr Swinney says there is a direct relationship between involving the police where there is a suspicion of a weapon being carried and a refusal to comply with searches.
The education secretary says effort will be focused on persuading pupils not to carry weapons in the first place.
He says there will also be a focus on teachers carrying out consensual searches where they believe it is necessary and calling the police if there is a refusal to comply with these searches.