Summary

  • The Education Committee takes evidence on additional support needs from key stakeholders

  • Portfolio questions: culture, tourism and external affairs followed by the justice and law brief

  • The Scottish Conservatives lead a debate on education

  • The Scottish Conservatives lead another debate on culture

  • Tory MSP Alexander Stewart leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive Project'

  1. Tory MSP calls for review of Community Payback Orderspublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Justice Secretary Michael MathesonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the government is committed in supporting local government in funding to collect community payback orders.

    Mr Matheson says there is also funding to stop reoffending and help offenders re-integrate to society.

    Mr Chapman says the fact is that nearly a third of orders were not completed last year and asks if the government will commit to an urgent review of payback orders.

    Mr Matheson says there was a review in 2015.

    The justice secretary says figures on completion rates are getting better.

  2. Completion rate of community payback orderspublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    CPOImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks what steps the government is taking to improve the completion rate of community payback orders.

  3. Progress being made on police call handling insists justice secretary published at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Justice Secretary Michael MathesonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the government welcomes the update on call handling and it expects the police authority and Police Scotland to consider the findings.

    Mr Macdonald says there has been little improvement in the gazateer system and asks if this will make the cabinet secretary reconsider the closure of control room in Aberdeen.

    Mr Matheson says there has been progress in several areas. 

    The justice secretary says of 30 recommendations in the review, 16 have been discharged.

    He says he does not have good news for the member as far as the Aberdeen control room but he can assure him progress is being made. 

  4. Background: Progress report on police call handling after M9 crash published at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Police Call handliongImage source, bbc

    The latest findings from a review of police call handling were published by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary , in January.

    An inquiry was ordered in the wake of a crash on the M9 in 2015 in which two people died after police call handlers failed to pass on an accident report.

    Derek Penman reviewed 98 notable incidents between April and November 2016.

    About 23% involved handlers selecting the wrong location for the incident.

    But the latest report from the independent police watchdog pointed out that the incidents looked at represented a tiny proportion of calls received by Police Scotland.

    Last month,  a BBC investigation revealed that more than 80 "near misses" had been recorded in police call centres since April .

    The Scottish Information Commissioner ordered the  disclosure of all the incident reports  to BBC Scotland after the force denied a freedom of information request.

  5. Call handling in Police Scotlandpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald asks what the government's response is to the recent update report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland on call handling in Police Scotland.  

  6. Justice and the law officers briefpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    MSPs will now ask questions on justice and the law officers brief. 

  7. Labour MSP raises concerns about World Cup workforce in Qatar and human rights published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay

    International Development Minister Alasdair Allan says the government remains open to developing links with Qatar. 

    Mr Allan says the government use international devlopment work to promote human rights.

    Mr Findlay asks what infrastructure projects have been given to Quataries as other lose their jobs.

    Mr Allan says his predecessor Humza Yousaf spoke to Quatary authorities regarding human rights and the government will continue to keep an eye on this. 

  8. Background: British man dies working on Qatar 2022 World Cup stadium published at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Football stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    A British man has died after falling off a suspended platform while working on a 2022 World Cup stadium in Qatar.

    The man, 40, fell when the platform, used to manage sound and lighting, collapsed at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday, its construction firm contractor said.

    His safety harness was cut during the fall, Midmac-Six Construct said.

    Labour said the Qatari authorities and Fifa had been putting "profit before safety", and urged Fifa to investigate.

    The man was employed by a South African subcontractor, which was working for a German firm.

    The organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy,  said his next of kin had been informed, external .

    The Foreign Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and ready to support the man's family "at this very difficult time".

  9. Links with Qatarpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in developing links with Qatar.

  10. Government will continue to press BBC for more ALBA fundingpublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Ms Hyslop says the government has been in constant dialogue with the BBC for more funding for BBC ALBA and it will continue to press on this. 

    Mr Macdonald says there are concerns in the Gaelic community that funding for the new channel may adversely affect BBC ALBA.

    Ms Hyslop says the case for BBC ALBA is well made. 

  11. New TV channel for BBC in Scotlandpublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Tony Hall announces new BBC TV channel for Scotland

    A new TV channel for the BBC in Scotland will begin broadcasting in autumn 2018, director-general Tony Hall announced last week.

    The channel will have a budget of £30m, equivalent to the amount spent on BBC4.

    The plans for the channel include a Scottish news hour at 9pm which will broadcast stories from Scotland, the UK and the world.

    The director-general also announced an increase of about £20m a year for Scotland to make UK-wide programmes.

    The BBC's Scotland editor Sarah Smith on the new "Scottish Nine"

    Brian Taylor: It's a 'yes' to BBC Scotland's new TV channel

    He said this would be focused on drama and factual programming.

  12. Additional funding for BBC Albapublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    SNP MSP Angus MacDonald asks what progress the government is making in securing additional funding for BBC Alba.  

  13. Government is providing an extra £30,000 of funding for celebrations published at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the government is providing an extra £30,000 of funding for celebrations. 

    Mr Carlaw says Rudolf Bing was a Jew and raises the Shalom festival.

    Tory MSP Jackson CarlawImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw

    He says many event locations are reluctant to host this celebration and asks what the government can do about this.

    Ms Hyslop says it is important to promote ourselves as at outward looking society and that locations for celebrations are down to festival organisers. 

  14. Founding director of the Edinburgh International Festival commemorations published at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Rudolf BingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Rudolf Bing

    Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw asks what plans the government has to acknowledge and commemorate the role of the founding Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Rudolf Bing, in this its 70th anniversary year.  

  15. Obsession with immigration is working against the rural economy published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Mike RussellImage source, bbc

    Brexit Minister Mike Russell says he continues to raise the importance of free movement to the UK government.

    The Brexit minister says he will continue with these efforts.

    Mr Dey asks if the UK government "just don't care" about EU citizens in Scotland.

    Mr Russell says the obsession with immigration is working against the rural economy. 

  16. Government facing Brexit defeat in Lords over EU nationalspublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    
          An estimated 3.2 million UK residents were born elsewhere in the EU
        Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    An estimated 3.2 million UK residents were born elsewhere in the EU

    The government is facing a first defeat for its Brexit bill in the House of Lords later.

    Peers are expected to agree to amend the draft legislation to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd had sought to reassure members that EU nationals' status would be a priority once Brexit talks begin.

    But a cross-party amendment calling for a firm guarantee is expected to secure the backing of most peers.

  17. The movement of agriculture and horticulture workers post-Brexit published at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    SNP MSP Graeme Dey asks what progress is being made in negotiations with the UK Government regarding the freedom of movement of agriculture and horticulture workers post-Brexit.  

  18. Festivals in Glasgowpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Tory MSP Annie Wells asks how the government plan to deal with any anti-social behaviour at festivals in the Glasgow area.

    Ms Hyslop says this is part of the government event plans. 

  19. Minister says Celtic Connections 2017 has been a great success. published at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    Culture SecretaryImage source, bbc

    Ms Hyslop says Celtic Connections 2017 has been a great success.

    Mr Mason asks if the definition of celtic music needs to be narrower.

    Ms Hyslop says that is for the festivals themselves but culture and music from other countries is very important. 

  20. Celtic Connections 201published at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2017

    bbcImage source, bbc

    SNP MSP John Mason asks how successful the government considers Celtic Connections 2017 has been for Glasgow and Scotland.