Mr Yousaf says that the Scottish government published its own report into ferry procurement that ruled out alternatives to tendering.

He says that many of the routes did not meet tendering criteria and so were covered by state aid requirements.

The report found that the Gourock and Dunoon route had to be subject to competitive tendering, he says.

Image source, MJ RICHARDSON/GEOGRAPH

Community leaders in the south of Skye have expressed anger that a ferry has not been restored to a crossing between the island and Mallaig.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed the deployment of the Coruisk between Oban and Mull for a second summer season to meet increased demand.

Islanders on Skye have accused CalMac of ignoring their calls for the ferry return to the Armadale-Mallaig service.

They say replacement vessels are unsuitable for the crossing.

Tidal conditions at certain times of the year prevent these ferries from getting into the harbour on Skye.

Image source, bbc

Transport and Islands Minister Humza Yousaf says the government clearly recognises the essential ferry services.

Mr Yousaf says the Scottish government has invested £1bn to maintain these services since 2007.

He announces a review into the legal policy and financial implications relevant to the procurement of these services.

In May Caledonian MacBrayne won a new £900m contract to continue operating the Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Network.

State-owned CalMac and private firm Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited had been competing for the contract to run the services.

Image source, CALMAC

CalMac already operates the routes on the west coast of Scotland, which include the inner and outer Hebrides.

The new contract, which was awarded by the Scottish government, covers the eight-year period from 1 October.

There will now be a ministerial statement on Scotland's ferry services.

Image source, HANDOUT/BBC

First up in the chamber this afternoon there will be a ministerial statement on Scotland's ferry service.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay leads the Stage One debate on his Budget Bill.

Image source, House of Commons

The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill was given a second reading in the House of Commons with government support on 25 November 2016.

The House of Commons Defence Committee supported the original bill in its report "Exposing Walter Mitty", external.

Committee chair Julian Lewis described the impostors as "contemptible fantasists".

Economy Secretary Keith Brown says it was appropriate that Tory MSP Bill Bowman gave a speech given that he replaces the late Alex Johnstone who was passionate about this issue.

Mr Brown says this subject is covered by Westminster and that the UK Bill passed the committee stage yesterday and a report will be submitted to the House of Commons at the end of the month.

The economy secretary says people do this for a number of reasons; to mislead, because they are fantasists but also because they may have underlying mental health issues.

We must be mindful that some people may have underlying health issues, he says.

Mr Brown says these medals are not given out on a whim and for someone to wear a medal for gain is disrespectful.

He says it is important that the Scottish justice system can deal with such people.

Image source, ebay

The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill - that would make wearing unauthorised medals a criminal offence, punishable by prison or a £5,000 fine.  

Impostors who wear military medals they have not earned could face jail if a bill now before parliament is passed. What drives these "Walter Mittys" to invent fake tales of heroism?

Maybe it starts down the pub. There's talk of the SAS, and you've read all the books. An exaggeration becomes an embellishment, and then a lie.

People are impressed. You get carried away. Buy medals on eBay. Wear them to a Remembrance Day parade.

Image source, ISTOCK

Then you slip up. You get a detail wrong and someone notices. You're exposed as a fraud. A Walter Mitty.

In military circles, the name of James Thurber's fictional fantasist is applied to the persistent band of hoaxers who, for whatever reason, boast of military records they haven't earned. Sometimes Walter Mitty is abbreviated to Walter, or just Walt.

One well-publicised case involved Roger Day, who admitted he hadn't earned the 17 medals - including awards for serving in World War II, the Military Medal and SAS badges - that he wore at a 2009 parade in Warwickshire.

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says there is the issue of family members wearing medals awarded to their late relatives and that this is covered in the bill.

Tory MSP Edward Mountain intervenes to say it is entirely appropriate for family members to wear medals awarded to their late relatives and that they normally wear them on the opposite side to the norm.

Mr Mountain says this bill does not seek to punish that. 

Mr Macdonald agrees and says he welcomes this bill.

• Report: Exposing Walter Mitty: The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill, external

Image source, ALAMY

Walter Mitty

• In James Thurber's short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the mild-mannered hero imagines himself as a fighter pilot, an assassin and a brilliant surgeon
• It was first published in the New Yorker in 1939 and adapted for the screen twice - first in 1947, with Danny Kaye in the title role, and again in 2013, starring Ben Stiller
• The name "Walter Mitty" entered the lexicon, with Oxford Dictionaries defining it as "a person who fantasises about a life much more exciting and glamorous than their own"

SNP MSP Colin Beattie says the bill makes it possible to fine or even imprison perpetrators.

He says he welcomes the bill and looks forward to seeing the positive impact it will have. 

Mr Kerr calls on Parliament to support this bill.

"Every November we remember the men and women who have given their lives to protect us," he says.

The Tory MSP says people still protect us and these people should be honoured with this bill. 

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon says "Medals recognise our forces who risk their lives for freedom. It is important their service is properly protected," he said.

But James Glancy, a former captain in the Royal Marines who received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his service in Afghanistan, told the BBC's Daily Politics the bill goes "too far".

"I think it's just going too far to suggest someone could go to prison…" he said. "I think it's very important to look at what's going on with someone that is actually pretending that they served in the armed forces.

"There may well be a serious mental health problem and actually that person just has low self-esteem, they're not a threat to the public, and they actually need professional help."

Image source, Getty Images

Legislation making the unauthorised wearing of medals a criminal offence was originally introduced in the aftermath of the First World War by the then secretary for war, Winston Churchill.

It remained on the statute book until 2006 when the new Armed Forces Act came into force and the provisions relating to military decorations were not carried over.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr pays tribute to his former colleague, the late Tory MSP Alex Johnstone, saying this bill was very important to him and, therefore, makes it more of an honour to bring this debate to Parliament.

Mr Kerr says for many who have suffered as their loved ones are injured or worse, medals are a memory of that person.

Mr Kerr says he is surprised this is not a crime, particularly considering it used to be.

A Private Member's Bill making it offence for people to wear military medals to which they are not entitled was backed by the UK government last November.

The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill tabled by Conservative MP Gareth Johnson passed its Commons second reading on Friday.

Image source, Getty Images

It could create a new criminal offence with a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment or a £5,000 fine.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon says he "fully supports" the proposal.

Read more here.