SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson welcome the endometriosis campaigners to the gallery.

Mr Gibson says the last debate on the subject was in 2001 and was raised by Annabel Goldie. 

He says this was before the chamber existed and he and Labour MSP Elaine Smith were two of the five speakers during that debate.

He says the title for this year's Endometriosis Awareness Week is 'It's Ok to Talk. Period.'

He says he disagrees and that it is necessary to talk about endometriosis. 

Image source, Endometriosis UK

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis (pronounced en- doh – mee – tree – oh – sis) is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body.

READ MORE HERE, external .

Endometriosis treatment

If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, your doctor or specialist should discuss possible endometriosis treatment options with you.

Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis. The different treatments available for endometriosis aim to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for a woman living with the condition. 

READ MORE HERE., external

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Mr Gibson says this year's theme was chosen to specifically encourage women and girls to seek medical help if they experience painful, heavy, difficult or irregular periods, as this can be a sign of the condition. 

Half of all women with it experience the first symptoms in their teenage years. 

The SNP MSP says endometriosis causes physical pain and can lead to infertility and depression. 

He says endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition, there is not enough debate and awareness about it, and notes the view that urgent work is required to see what can be done to achieve both earlier diagnosis and better treatment options for the many women in Scotland and beyond with endometriosis.

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SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson will now lead a debate entitled 'It's Ok to Talk. Period.'. 

The debate highlights Endometriosis Awareness Week 2017 will run from 6 to 12 March.

The aim of the week is to draw attention to the impact of the condition on the lives of the 10% of women of reproductive age who are living with it. 

The MSP for Cunninghame North says endometriosis can be exceptionally difficult to diagnose, with the average time for diagnosis after the first symptoms are experienced being 7.5 years.

The Economy Committee motion is passed unanimously.

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Labour MSP Jackie Baillie calls on the SNP to stop talking about dividing itself off from the rest of the UK.

Mr Mason says, if he is not mistaken, all the references to independence came from the Tories and Labour and it is the SNP that has been getting on with the day job.

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SNP MSP and deputy convener of the Economy Committee John Mason says the debate has been worthwhile.

Mr Mason says the committee was able to visit 18 companies around Scotland during its inquiry into the economic impact of Brexit, external .

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The economy secretary asks why the Tories want to keep telling the world that Scotland is the highest taxed part of the UK, when he say it is not true.

He asks when do the Conservatives ever celebrate Scottish success, accusing the Tories of always talking Scotland down.

Mr Brown says the Scottish Conservatives are guilty of a "dizzying" array of u-turns in their Brexit policy.

The minister says Labour's Jackie Baillie's speech was almost interchangeable with the Tories.

He accuses Labour of a number of u-turns as well.

The Scottish government will do everything possible to prevent Brexit, he concludes.

Mr Brown says the UK government has classified both oil and gas and financial services as low priority, which shows the "contempt" it has for vital Scottish businesses.

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart asks how will slashing the enterprise budget by 40% will help.

Mr Brown says Mr Lockhart conflates the enterprise budget with the budgets of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

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Economy Secretary Keith Brown asks should we aim for the rest of the UK or the EU?

Mr Brown answers himself: "Of course we should do both."

He says productivity growth is currently four times the UK rate.

The economy secretary says the Scottish economy is inherently strong. 

Britons are being offered an "unreal and over-optimistic" vision of what Brexit will look like, Sir John Major has warned.

The former Tory prime minister also called for "more charm and a lot less cheap rhetoric" from the UK government towards the rest of the EU.

And he said the costs of leaving would be "substantial" and "unpalatable".

Downing Street said the government was determined to make a success of the UK's departure from the EU.

Conservative former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said it was a "peculiar speech in the sense that it looked backwards the whole time".

Mr Carlaw says it only takes one of the 27 states in the EU to say Scotland cannot retain the same trading arrangements with the rest of the UK for Mr Russell's whole plan to fall like a pack of cards.

The Conservative MSP says it is important to say that the prime minister wanted to agree the rights of EU citizens early, but it is the rest of Europe that is not prepared to make a deal on this.

He says he worked for John Major for five years and until five minutes ago he had never heard any good word about him.

The Tory MSP says refighting the independence referendum is a total waste of time.

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Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw says he came here in expectation that the heather would be set alight.

Mr Carlaw says it was a long dispiriting afternoon, with the same speech ten times from the SNP back benches.

The Tory MSP says Mr Russell accused the UK government for culpable and reckless conduct, but says the Brexit minister should know about that having been sacked as education secretary for culpable and reckless conduct

Mr Carlaw says Mr Russell has a reputation as a "pussy cat" in the JMC and a "locker room hero" when he gets out.

Mr Leonard says he hopes the trade unions will be involved in the economic mapping exercise, alongside the Scottish government.

The Labour MSP says the Scottish government must "spread its net far and wide" to engage with all business.

He says the Economy Committee calls for a review of the government's economic strategy, external .

The Scottish government "must do more" to support local businesses exporting across the world in the wake of Brexit  , Holyrood's economy committee said in its report.

MSPs want the government to review its strategy due to the "changing economic landscape" since the EU referendum.

The committee argues that it is "time to maximise opportunities in growing markets such as China and India".

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The Scottish government said it was "working on an ambitious programme of internationalisation" and trade.

A spokeswoman described Brexit as "by far the biggest threat to Scotland's jobs, prosperity and economy".

Meanwhile Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell has denied there would be a "bonfire of regulations" for exporting firms after the UK leaves the EU.

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Labour MSP Richard Leonard says the cross-party Economy Committee report has laid down some challenges for the trade union movement, the government and the parliament.

Mr Leonard says the economic impact of leaving the EU is a matter of interest for the people of Scotland.

He says that includes those living here with a passport from a different state.

The Labour MSP says the Conservative government should stop using them as bargaining chips. 

Labour MSP James Kelly says there is no doubt that the Brexit issue is a major issue with the potential impact being more serious than any we have faced since 1999.

Mr Kelly says the impact of import inflation is already being seen.

He says this will have an impact on NHS budgets.

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Mr Kelly says Brexit will hit the household incomes of the poor and the elderly and there will potentially be 80,000 job losses in Scotland.

Import inflation has some quite dire consequences for us, he says.

He says 115,000 EU citizens work in Scotland and there is a wider debate to be had about the skills shortage in Scotland.

SNP MSP Mairi Evans says the conclusions of the report were clear that if Scotland leaves the EU, the single market and loses freedom of movement then it will have a detrimental effect on its economy.

Ms Evans says the report being considered highlights how important the free movement of talent is.

The SNP MSP says EU nationals make up 16% of staff in universities and almost 200 jobs could potentially be at risk and that is not to mention the students.

She says it is imperative that the Scottish government use the report to encourage the UK government to listen to Scotland.