Summary

  • The Public Audit Committee will take evidence from the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland's chief constable

  • The attainment gap, the mental health strategy and retail banks are all raised during general questions

  • Opposition leaders quiz Nicola Sturgeon during first minister's questions

  • SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor leads a debate on Apprenticeship Week

  • The government gives a ministerial statement on the Child Protection Improvement Programme

  • The government leads a debate on the Scottish Patient Safety Programme

  1. Sporting agency describes 20% funding cut as "heartbreaking" published at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    runnerImage source, bbc

    Sport funding in Scotland is facing a 20% reduction over a three-year period, a move described as "heartbreaking" by the national agency.

    sportscotland, external  says it has yet to decide where the cuts will fall amid concerns that elite athletes could suffer.

    The cuts are being blamed on reduced government spending and a drop in National Lottery ticket sales - a major contributor to sports backing.

    Governing bodies are bracing themselves for potential job losses.

    About 60% of funding is made up from Scottish Government money, with lottery sales making up the rest.

  2. Sports funding set for a 20% reductionpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks what the Scottish government's response is to reports that sports funding is set for a 20% reduction over the next three years, which has been described by Sportscotland as "heartbreaking".

  3. Sturgeon says social housing for disabled people is important published at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks what measures the Scottish government will take to ensure that there is appropriate social housing to meet the requirements of disabled, vulnerable and frail older people. 

    Ms Sturgeon says social housing for disabled people is important as well as access to suitable housing.

    Mr Grahame asks if the first minister is aware of a recent report calling for a commission to report on long term funding and asks if the first minister will committ to that.

    Ms Sturgeon says "yes" it is important to have a strategic approach and the government will review the report and consider its recommendations. 

  4. Social housingpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks what measures the Scottish government will take to ensure that there is appropriate social housing to meet the requirements of disabled, vulnerable and frail older people.

  5. 'I condemn any language no matter who it is from that is racist or anti-English' published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Ms Sturgeon says she applies the same standard to everyone.

    "I condemn any language no matter who it is from that is racist or anti-English," she says.

    The first minister says the SNP movement is the loudest voice for immigration an tolerance

  6. Tory MSP criticises SNP counciller's languagepublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says last weekend the first minister was quick to respond to Sadiq Khan's comments about nationalism and says an SNP counciller's language should be condemned.

  7. UK Tories undermining Scottish Parliament?published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    SNP MSP Maree Todd says today's Times report on reserved matters and says the Tories are undermining the parliament. 

    Ms Sturgeon says it is clear the UK government is undermining the Scottish Parliament on Brexit. 

    She calls for clarity that there will be no power grab.

  8. Postpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

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  9. SPA transparency and accountabilitypublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Tory MSP Douglas Ross says a member of the SPA has resigned over speaking out about how the authority conducts its business.

    Mr Ross asks what the government will do to ensure the SPA is transparent.

    Ms Sturgeon says she is very clear that SPA meetings should be held in public and that the papers should be public.

    The first minister says transparency and accountability is a requirement of the SPA. 

  10. 'Parents have the right to know how their children are doing' published at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Mr Rennie says the first minister "is wrong" because we already can see league tables in the statistics published by her government.

    The Lib Dem leader says "isn't it about time the first minister realised she is wrong". 

    Ms Sturgeon says "Willie Rennie is 100% wrong" and that he, "perhaps inadvertently but I suspect not, is trying to mislead people about standardised testing."

    The first minister says the government are not publishing league tables but are publishing statistics as to how pupils are performing.

    "I make no apology for this because parents have the right to know how their children are doing,"she says. 

  11. Will the government keep its promise to not introduce league tables? published at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie RennieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie asks if the first minister will change her mind on national testing and has it kept its promises on not having league tables.

    Ms Sturgeon says the government has not and will not publish league tables.

    The first minister says the government will continue to introduce standaradised testing and will continue to publish data.

    "If we don't have that, how will we know where we have to do better," she says. 

  12. Postpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

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  13. Workers being told to watch The Big Bang Theory' is completely unacceptable' published at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    
          Sheldon Cooper (right) is notorious for his lack of tact and success with women
        Image source, AP
    Image caption,

    Sheldon Cooper (right) is notorious for his lack of tact and success with women

    Mr Harvie says teachers feel that they don't have the appropriate time or resources to complete training in ASN.

    The Scottish Greens co-convener says some feel there is less training available than there was 25 years ago.

    He asks if the first minister has read the evidence from this week.

    Ms Sturgeon says she has studied the evidence and will work with the education secretary on any actions the government needs to take.

    The first minister says this is about making sure all teachers have the training that they need.

    "As far as workers being told to watch The Big Bang Theory, that is completely unacceptable," she says.

  14. Postpublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Two different versions of FMQs being watched on Twitter today?

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  15. Sturgeon says the government is providing funding for additional support needs published at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Ms Sturgeon says the government is providing funding for additional support needs and it is not simply the case at looking for dedicated support teachers because many of the children with ASN are in mainstream schools.

    The first minister says the individual case of being told to watch the Big Bang Theory, Mr Harvie mentioned, is "completely unacceptable".

    She says this is why the government have provided extra resources. 

  16. School staff member told 'watch Big Bang Theory' as Asperger's training published at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    
          The Big Bang Theory is a popular American sitcom focusing on a group of highly intelligent but socially inept "nerds"
        Image source, AP
    Image caption,

    The Big Bang Theory is a popular American sitcom focusing on a group of highly intelligent but socially inept "nerds"

    A member of staff at a Scottish school was told to watch The Big Bang Theory as training to deal with a pupil with Asperger syndrome, MSPs have been told.

    Holyrood's education committee took evidence on support for pupils with additional needs.

    Sylvia Haughney, a support for learning instructor, said there was not enough teacher training.

    She said a support worker had been advised to watch American sitcom The Big Bang Theory as a form of training.

    Colin Crawford, head of inclusion in the council's education services department, accepted there may need to be a review of what training teachers need, but said this should apply when they are at college as much as when working in schools.

  17. 'Shocking lack of resources' for ASN says Harviepublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick HarvieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie

    Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie says everyone in the chamber wants the attainment gap closed but it "has many complex causes".

    Mr Harvie says one of those causes is additional support needs.

    The Scottish Greens co-convener says evidence given this week shows the "shocking lack of resources" for this.

    He says one worker was told to go away and watch The Big Bang theory to learn about Asberger's. 

  18. Postpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

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  19. Business rates hike raisedpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

    The issue of a local nursery owner facing a business rates hike is raised as a constituency question.

  20. Postpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2017

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