MSPs voted to demand the Scottish government allow Highlands and Islands Enterprise to retain its own board  in January. 

The government wants a new management body to oversee all of Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies.

Opposition members say this would be a "death knell for HIE as we know it", and backed a motion asking the government to "reverse" its decision.

Economy secretary Keith Brown said HIE would "continue to be locally based, managed and directed" under his plans.

HIE supports economic growth in the Northern Isles, Western Isles, Highlands, Moray and Argyll.

Ms Smith says there is concern about "where on earth the Scottish government is going".

The Tory MSP says the message from the parliament about the HIE board on 18 January 2017 was clear for retention.

Ms Smith says asks if the SFC board will still be a legal entity which will challenge the Scottish government and higher education institutions.

The Tory MSP says "little of this is clear" at the moment. 

Ms Smith says University Scotland have made clear that there is a need for a statutory non-ministerial body. 

She says it seems unclear whether or not the chair of the new board will be a minister.

"The industry want the guarantee that the board will challenge ministers as it does now," she says.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Scottish government had set out plans to reform Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies  in October.

It proposed setting up a new Scotland-wide statutory board to co-ordinate the activities of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The government said services already provided in the Highlands and Islands would be protected.

A new service has also been proposed for the south of Scotland.

The activities of Scottish Enterprise and HIE include the running of Scottish Development International, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.  

Image source, Wind Towers Scotland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise should have its own board, suggests phase two of a review of Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies.

The first phase published last year recommended that a new national board co-ordinate the activities of HIE, Scottish Enterprise and other bodies.

The potential winding up of HIE's own board has been the source of  a political row .

But phase two recommends HIE and the others retain their independent boards.

A new national strategic board would oversee the organisations' activities, it has been suggested.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Liz Smith says Economy Secretary Keith Brown provided no evidence for the abolition of the SFC board.

Ms Smith says the cabinet secretary could name no organisation who was calling for the abolition of the SFC board.

She says the Scottish government made up its mind before phase one that the board would be abolished.

The Tory MSP says unbelievably ministers could not understand why MSPs and stakeholders were so concerned.

Tory MSP Liz Smith says Economy Secretary Keith Brown has set out the amalgamation of Scotland's four enterprise agency boards.

Ms Smith says Mr Brown made it clear the current enterprise boards would be abolished and there would be one overarching board.

The Tory MSP says the has "caused uncertainty for enterprise agencies."

She says Mr Brown has stated that this move will provide more coherence because there will be one overarching board. 

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, Thinkstock

Concerns have been raised about the centralisation of funding for Scottish universities, B BC Scotland has learned.

Critics have warned that the abolition of the Scottish Funding Council could pose a threat to academic independence.

The concern follows a decision two weeks ago to put the Scottish government's economic agencies under a single national board.

It has since become clear that the four boards of directors running the agencies face abolition.

The Scottish Conservative motion on the abolition of the Scottish Funding Council board is

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Conservative MSP Liz Smith will now lead a debate calling for the Scottish Funding Council board to be retained.

Image source, bbc

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says as part of this Act those requesting a license must provide a statement on disabled access.

Mr Matheson says if the applicant does not provide a statement it is not grounds to reject the application but it will be seen as incomplete. 

Mr Johnson says the government have yet to enact this as law and asks if this will be done this year because for many disabled people "a beer delayed is a beer denied."

Mr Matheson says the government try to take these processes forward in a phased manner and he will try and take this forward this year. 

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks what progress the government is making with the implementation of section 179 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 regarding disabled access.  

SNP MSP Clare Haughey asks what the position is in drug courts.

Ms Ewing says this has been a success in Glasgow and the outcome for the individual is key in cases. 

Scottish Conservative MSP Finlay Carson asks what the government's position is on the time taken to conclude cases in the courts.

Image source, bbc

A "radical digital transformation" of Scotland's court system has been proposed, which could see many hearings in criminal cases conducted online.

A  proposal paper, external  from the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) said all pre-trial procedure should be done digitally unless pleas are contested.

It also proposes sentencing being conducted online in some cases.

Chief Executive Eric McQueen said it was time to "reconsider fundamentally how our services are delivered".

Labour MSP Mary Fee asks if a £4m cut to the Scottish court service will improve access to justice for people. 

Ms Ewing says there has been an improvement in in the Scottish courts service. 

Image source, bbc

Community Safety Minister and Legal Affairs Annabelle Ewing says national performance has increased as has the reporting of domestic abuse.

Mr Tomkins says almost half of Scotland's sherrif courts are now performing worse than previously and have a backlog in cases.

He asks what action the government are taking.

Ms Ewing says the interpretation of the stats by Mr Tomkins is "less than robust" and there has been an overall improvement. 

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 30% of sheriff courts are failing to reach the 26-week target from caution and charge to verdict.  

Li Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks if the justice secretary can advise when the government will increase the penalty of community payback orders. 

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the government need to use the evidence when looking to reduce re-offending. 

Mr Matheson says he intends to update parliament in due course on penalties for CPOs. 

More than 1.8 million hours of unpaid work was imposed on offenders in Scotland last year as punishment for their offences,  figures, external  published in 2015 showed.

Of the 20,400 social work orders started in 2013-14, 78% contained an element of unpaid work.

The Scottish government said the successful completion rate for social work orders had risen in each of the last five years.

The figure rose from 59% in 2008-09 to 71% in 2013-14.