Summary

  • The Scottish FA gives evidence to the Sport Committee on child protection in sport

  • Topical questions will see queries about teaching staff levels and families in emergency accommodation

  • The Scottish government lead a debate on Article 50

  • Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'Blackhillock to Kintore Transmission Line'

  1. Point of order on poverty adviser's reportpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Labour MSP Alex RowleyImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley

    Labour MSP Alex Rowley rises to make a point of order regarding reports that the SNP told its adviser on poverty Naomi Eisenstadt to rewrite a government paper, omitting council cuts.

    Today's Times reports that Naomi Eisenstadt was asked to change the wording of her major report on poverty by the SNP government. 

    Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says it is not a point order, but an important point.

  2. Brexit debate underway at Westminster, but stay with us for Holyrood's Article 50 debate herepublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  3. Cap of one-week for families with young children living in temporary B&B accomodationpublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Housing Minister Kevin StewartImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says people may be in temporary B&B accommodation if they have to leave their homes in a hurry. 

    Mr Stewart says the government have put a cap of one-week on families with young children living in temporary B&B accommodation. 

    He says Scotland's strong homelessness rights mean people can access temporary accommodation. 

    He says the government are increasing housing supply to help with this. 

  4. Families in emergency accommodationpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks what the government is doing to reduce the amount of time families are spending in emergency accommodation.  

  5. Education secretary 'skeptical' about a national register of supply teacherspublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Tory MSP Liz Smith says a national register of supply teachers would take the pressure off of teachers and asks what progress is being made.

    Mr Swinney says he is "skeptical" about a national register of supply teachers making any difference.

    He says you cannot have a register if the teachers are not there. 

  6. Article 50 debate begins around 2.20pm....published at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  7. Government taking measures to have additional teachers in schoolspublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Education Secretary John Swinney

    Education Secretary John Swinney says the government are setting targets to train teachers.

    Mr Swinney says the government are allocating additional funding to help with this.

    Mr Scott says only one in ten primary school classes have 18 pupils or less and asks what the government are doing about class sizes.

    Mr Swinney says the government are aiming to have additional teachers in schools.

    The education secretary says the number of professionals who are working with children with additional support needs has risen as has government funding in the area. 

  8. Teaching staff in schools questionspublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks the Scottish government what its response is to reports that almost half of head teachers consider that there is a lack of teaching staff in schools. 

  9. Topical questions is nextpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    We now move to topical questions, where issues around teaching staff levels and families in emergency accommodation will be raised.

  10. Are Crafty Crawford or Crappy Crawford appropriate for the chamber?published at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    SNP MSP Bruce Crawford raises a point of order asking whether we are on the slippery slope in language used like Patsy Harvie used by Murdo Fraser.

    Mr Crawford asks if he should be addressed as Crafty Crawford or Crappy Crawford in future. 

    Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says it is up to all members to show respect and that includes addressing members by their proper names. 

  11. Time for Reflectionpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Reverend Jack Graham
    Image caption,

    Reverend Jack Graham

    Reverend Jack Graham, a minister from Parkhead Congregational Church, Glasgow, delivers today's Time for Reflection.

  12. Coming up ..................... MSPs will debate Article 50 from 2.20pmpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Topical questions will see queries about teaching staff levels and families in emergency accommodation.

    Next up the Scottish government will lead a debate on Article 50, join us for extensive coverage from 2.20pm.

    MSPs will debate Article 50 from 2.20pmImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    MSPs will debate Article 50 from 2.20pm

    After the appointment of the new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the member’s debate, focuses on Blackhillock to Kintore transmission line.      

  13. That ends our coverage of the Sport and Health Committeepublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    That brings our coverage of the Sport and Health Committee to an end. 

  14. Volunteer Scotland calls for trust based system of child protectionpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    George Thomson from Volunteer Scotland says there is a cross-roads whether a system is based on fear or trust and he says it should be trust.  

    Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie says of course it is about culture change and he calls for close scrutiny of professional football.

    Mary Glasgow from Children 1st says a lot of children who are currently being abused don't come forward.

    Ms Glasgow says there is a way to go to hear children sensitively and there must be a legal and support system in place.

    CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins with Police Scotland says we must be ambitious in how we tackle child abuse in sport.

    Matt Forde with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Scotland says the support of victims must be looked at and prevention must be looked at. 

    Lauren Bruce from COSLA says the wider culture must be looked at and that is about National Child Protection policies being filtered down. 

  15. 'We are talking about the rape of children'published at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins
    Image caption,

    Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs asks if there is a lack of movement to change culture, so that more victims come forward.

    Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins with Police Scotland says there has been mention of transparency, leadership and responsibility but language is also important

    ACC Hawkins says it is important to call things what they are or "you let people off the hook."

    "We are talking about the rape of children," he says.

    He says the committee must be ambitious because child abuse in Scotland can be eradicated. 

  16. Scottish Sports Association submission to the committeepublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    SPAImage source, SPA
    Image caption,

    SPA

    SGBs (Scottish Governing Bodies) and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme The PVG scheme was introduced by the Scottish Government in 2011 and is managed by Disclosure Scotland. 

    Disclosure Scotland‟s responsibilities include taking decisions on who should be barred from working with vulnerable groups. 

    The scheme: “helps to ensure that those who have regular contact with children and protected adults, through paid and unpaid work, do not have a known history of harmful behaviour.”   

    The SSA, external exists to represent and support SGBs as the independent and collective voice for SGBs. 

    Read more of the SSA submission to the committeee, external

  17. 'The well being of every child is at the heart of everything we do'published at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Kim Atkinson from the Scottish Sports AssociationImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Kim Atkinson from the Scottish Sports Association

    Kim Atkinson from the Scottish Sports Association says the well being of every child is at the heart of everything we do.  

    Ms Atkinson says PVGs and MORs are a systematic nationwide approach to child protection.

    She says every person should have the opportunity to enjoy their sport in a safe environment.

    Ms Atkinson says 195,000 people volunteer in sport and the proportionate notion is at the heart of the way forward.

  18. Victims must be encouraged to come forward and speak openly about abuse they have sufferedpublished at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Mary Glasgow from Children 1st

    SNP MSP Maree Todd says, as a former psychiatrist, she has been struck by a disparity between protection for children in sport and protection for vulnerable adults in sport. 

    Mary Glasgow from Children 1st says it must be considered and lessons can be learned from processes that are already in place.

    Ms Glasgow says it is about robust and proportionate systems but attitudes in society must be changed and people must talk more about child abuse issues openly.

    She says victims must be encouraged to come forward speak openly about the abuse they have suffered.

  19. Postpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post