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
SNP MSP Gillian Martin says the forthcoming guidance will be welcomed by teachers and families.
Mr Swinney says the guidance will be drafted from key stakeholders like teachers' unions, other education bodies and the Violence Reduction Unit, among others.
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says he welcomes the approach of the government on searches.
Mr McArthur says a change to the law on searches would have damaged confidence in schools.
The Lib Dem MSP asks the minister to comment on online sales of weapons.
Mr Swinney says to change the law on searches would have damaged the relationship between pupils and teachers.
The education secretary acknowledges the difficulties around buying weapons online and says retailers must be mindful of their responsibilities.
Image source, bbcNo Knives, Better Lives campaign
SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor asks for more information about the No Knives, Better Lives, external campaign.
Mr Swinney says the campaign has been in existence since 2009 across 19 local authorities.
He says there has been a significant reduction in knife crime.
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald asks if the implementation of recommendations is well on course and if there is a further role for the government to support local authorities with this.
Mr Swinney says the school community has handled an "unimaginable circumstance".
The education secretary says collaborative working is important and this should remain in place.
He says the government will continue to work with Aberdeen City Council to take matters forward.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Ross Thomson, a current Aberdeen City Councillor, says he knows the impact of Bailey Gwynne's death a year ago.
Mr Thomson asks if the "exemplar work" carried out by Aberdeen City Council will be spread throughout other councils.
Mr Swinney agrees there is "good work" to be shared here.
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SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth asks what the government is doing to support schools with the well being of pupils and staff.
Mr Swinney says work is being undertaken to make sure schools are safe, positive environments.
The education secretary says he has set out the additional guidance that will be put in place to support this.
Image source, bbcThe deputy first minister also welcomes the support of the Labour party for the government's approach to this issue.
Mr Swinney says the government has concluded a UK wide approach to tackling online security around the purchasing of knives is crucial.
He says the Scottish government will work with the UK government in taking this forward.
Labour MSP Claire Baker
Labour MSP Claire Baker says she welcomes the review and the work of Aberdeen City Council.
Ms Baker says "parents must know their children are safe in school."
The Labour MSP asks for more information on how laws might be changed to achieve this.
Image source, bbcEducation Secretary John Swinney
Education Secretary John Swinney says he welcomes the response of the Conservative party and Liz Smith.
Mr Swinney says when the government is formulating the guidance that is issued to schools there will be consultation made with teaching unions and other education bodies.
He says we must equip our teachers to make sure they can handle these situations.
The minister says the emphasis on the encouragement of positive behaviours is important.
Tory MSP Liz Smith
Tory MSP Liz Smith says she accepts the reasons provided by the government on compulsory searches.
Ms Smith asks if guidance on consensual searches can be made clear for teachers so they are equipped to handle situations.
The Tory MSP asks if the education secretary can give more information on this.
A fatal stabbing at an Aberdeen school was "potentially avoidable" if teachers had been told a pupil carried weapons, an inquiry has found.
Bailey Gwynne, 16, was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil during a fight at Cults Academy on 28 October last year.
His killer, who cannot be named, was later jailed for nine years after being found guilty of culpable homicide.
The report said the Scottish government should consider legal changes to give teachers more power to search pupils.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said the Scottish government would consider the findings and report back in due course.
Schoolboy death 'avoidable' if teachers had known about knife
The report has been heavily redacted
A heavily-redacted report into the killing of Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne has been published.
Bailey, 16, was stabbed during a fight with a fellow pupil at Cults Academy.
The schoolboy's killer is serving nine years for culpable homicide.
The Aberdeen Chief Officers Group said in a statement: "We understand the interest in the content of the review but we are bound by data protection laws and respect the wishes of the individuals and families involved."
A review in October found his death was "potentially avoidable".
The review, conducted by child welfare professional Andrew Lowe, made several recommendations.
Image source, bbcMr Swinney says throughout the deliberations of the government the fact that a young man lost his life in one of our schools was at the forefront of their minds.
Mr Swinney says teachers would be placed on the same footing as police officers if the law was to be changed on compulsory searches.
The education secretary says this would damage the relationship between teachers and pupils.
He says the guidance will remain that searches can be conducted if considered necessary but if the pupil refuses the police must be called.
Mr Swinney says new guidance will be provided on violence and weapons to schools.
The education secretary says monitoring and recording will allow local authorities to crackdown on incidents.
He says the government has invested in schools to clampdown on violence.
Image source, No Knives, Better LivesNo Knives, Better Lives
Mr Swinney says since 2007 the government has invested £10.5m in an effort to reduce violence among young people.
The education secretary says a substantial amount of this has gone to No Knives, Better Lives, external.
Image source, Scottish CourtsLady Stacey said no sentence she could impose would lessen the grief felt by Bailey's family
A teenager who stabbed a 16-year-old to death in an Aberdeen school was jailed for nine years in April.
Bailey Gwynne died after being stabbed in the heart at Cults Academy in October.
His 16-year-old killer - who cannot be named for legal reasons - had denied murder but was convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
He was sentenced by Lady Stacey at the High Court in Edinburgh, external. He will be supervised for two years after release.
The boy was handed an eight-year sentence - and the supervision - for the killing, and another year for weapons offences.
Image source, PAThe education secretary outlines greater knife controls
Mr Swinney says the government has legislated for greater control on knife possession.
He says it is illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18 and the penalty for carrying a knife has risen.
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