Summary

  • The Education Committee takes evidence from the Commission on Widening Access and the Fair Access commissioner

  • Health and sport ministers are in the hot seats for portfolio questions

  • Ministerial Statement: UK Supreme Court Judgement on Triggering of Article 50

  • Scottish Labour lead a debate on the draft budget and ask Parliament to reject it as it stands

  • SNP MSP Emma Harper leads a member's debate on celebrating Burns and the Scots language

  1. UK government 'not listening' on Brexit, says Holyrood minister Russellpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    BrexitImage source, bbc

    Holyrood minister Mike Russell said the UK government was not listening to Scotland's voice on Brexit.

    He was speaking the day after Supreme Court judges ruled that MPs and peers should have a say on the triggering of Article 50, but MSPs could not.

    Mr Russell is due to deliver a statement on that ruling to the Holyrood chamber later.

    The UK government has insisted that Scotland's voice is "being heard clearly throughout the whole process".

    Scottish Secretary David Mundell said it was important that Scotland's SNP administration assisted in getting the best possible deal for Scotland and the whole UK.

  2. Analysis by BBC Scotland Political Editor Brian Taylorpublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Brian Taylor
    BBC Scotland Political Editor

    The Supreme Court ruling delineates precisely where formal, statutory power lies on the issue of reshaping Britain's relationship with the EU.

    Europe, as an issue, is reserved to Westminster along with foreign affairs more generally.

    It falls to the UK Parliament to implement the expressed popular will of the UK as a whole.

    UK, Scottish and EU flagsImage source, PA

    Quite right, say supporters of the Union, advising Nicola Sturgeon to fall into step. Which brings us back to the fundamental issue in Scottish politics.

    Ms Sturgeon does not accept a UK mandate but rather seeks the power to implement an independent Scottish mandate.

    Two competing options, then. It seems now very likely - perhaps indeed "all but inevitable" - that the people of Scotland will be asked, once more, which constitutional arrangement they favour.

    Read more from Brian here.

  3. Question on health secretary meeting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clydepublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Labour MSP Mary Fee asks when the health secretary will next meet NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

  4. Coming up shortly: Article 50 ruling statement from Brexit Minister Mike Russellpublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Ministers wanted to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for leaving the European Union, without consulting the Westminster parliament.

    Campaigners disputed this, saying the referendum result alone does not give ministers the power to change the British constitution and supersede legislation.

    Media caption,

    Sturgeon: Scotland say in Brexit is 'matter of democratic principle'

    The Supreme Court justices backed the challenge by eight votes to three, with President Lord Neuberger summarising their ruling as: "The Government cannot trigger Article 50 without an Act of Parliament authorising it to do so."

    With Jeremy Corbyn pledging the support of Labour MPs to backing the government on Article 50, the defeat in court is not expected to derail the Brexit process, although it could pose complications.

    The SNP have vowed to vote against invoking Article 50 if it does go to a vote at Westminster, while the Lib Dems have said they will oppose it unless there is a referendum on the final Brexit deal.

  5. Ninewells Hospital electrical wiringpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Labour MSP Jenny Marra asks whether the government will provide the £90 million required to bring the electrical wiring at Ninewells Hospital up to safe and modern standards.  

  6. Participation in sporting activitiespublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks what action the government is taking to encourage more participation in sporting activities.

  7. Health secretary 'confident' she will get agreement with the BMApublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Health Secretary Shona Robison
    Image caption,

    Health Secretary Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison says tackling health inequalities is a primary care outcome.

    Ms Robison says the government need to look beyond the GP contract to other measures.

    Mr Mason says the BMA is in a difficult position because it works with doctors in all areas.

    Ms Robison says she is confident she will get an agreement with the BMA. 

  8. GP resource inequalitypublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP John Mason asks what its position is on GP practices in the most deprived areas receiving more resources per patient than those in less deprived areas.

  9. Accessible health advice for the hearing impairedpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP Emma Harper asks what steps the government takes to ensure that the health advice it produces is accessible to people with hearing loss and deafness.

  10. 'To add to Mr Whittle's medal there should be a brass neck'published at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Ms CampbellImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Brian Whittle says it is hypocritical for an SNP member to raise this issue when it is slashing the sport budget.

    He asks what effect the Scottish government cuts will have.

    Ms Campbell says, "to add to Mr Whittle's medal there should be a brass neck," because it is his government's austerity and damaging cuts that is taking money out of sport. 

  11. Background: Cuts to the sports budget raisedpublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Green MSP Alison Johnstone has raised questions over an 8.3% real-terms cut to the sports budget. 

    Health Secretary Shona Robison agreed it was a "tough settlement", and said Sport Scotland should prioritise the delivery of grassroots community sport. 

  12. Increase in badminton uptake since Commonwealth Games 2014published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Public Health and Sport Minister Aileen Campbell says, since the Commonwealth Games in 2014, there has been an uptake in badminton and Sport Scotland are investing in it. 

    Ms Campbell says Sport Scotland has developed a world class sports system. 

  13. Nine in 10 elite Scotland athletes from 'middle class' backgroundpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Media caption,

    John Beattie meets Robbie Renwick and Michael Jamieson

    An overwhelming majority of Scotland's publicly-funded elite athletes are drawn from middle class backgrounds, a BBC Scotland investigation has found.

    It discovered that almost nine in 10 went to either fee-paying schools or a state school in a wealthy area.

    The data was uncovered by The Medal Myth, a documentary looking at elite sport, health and public spending.

    Sport Scotland said it was trying to do more to increase opportunities for all on its elite programmes.

    BBC Scotland originally asked Sport Scotland for demographic information about the athletes it supports - a total of more than 500.

  14. Young people’s participation in badmintonpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP Christina McKelvie asks what action the government is taking to encourage young people’s participation in badminton.  

  15. Funding for NHS Fife in 2017-18published at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP David Torrance
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP David Torrance

    SNP MSP David Torrance asks what the funding uplift will be for NHS Fife in 2017-18.

  16. Recruitment and retention options are available to boardspublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks if the government will look at retaining key staff post graduation.

    Ms Robison says there are recruitment and retention options available to boards.

    The health minister says the government are keen to work with boards to see what more can be done. 

  17. Solutions lie in implementing the recommendations from government's training reportpublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Health Minister Shona Robison
    Image caption,

    Health Minister Shona Robison

    Health Minister Shona Robison says NHS boards are required to have the right level of staffing.

    SNP MSP Gail Ross says NHS Highland have said general surgeons are required and asks what can be done about this.

    Ms Robison says the longer term solution lies in implementing the recommendations from its training report. 

  18. Background: GP call to target extra cash in poor areaspublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    doctorImage source, Thinkstock

    Doctors' leaders have urged the Scottish government to target increased investment in general practice at tackling health inequalities.

    The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Scotland called for a promised extra £500m for GPs and health centres to have a "sharper focus" in order to bring about change.

    The increased funding was announced at the SNP conference last October.

    The government said it was "determined to tackle health inequalities".

    Health Secretary Shona Robison pointed to a "links worker" programme, which will be extended following a pilot in deprived areas of Glasgow and Dundee.

  19. Rural physician and surgeon recruitmentpublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    SNP MSP Gail Ross asks what steps it is taking to recruit physicians and surgeons for rural general hospitals.

  20. Labour MSP raises the issue of pressure on neo-natal servicespublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Labour MSP Monica LennonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks what action the government are taking to reduce the pressure on neo-natal units.

    Ms Campbell says the government have carried out a review on all neo-natal services and listened to what women want from these services.