Labour MSP Alex Rowley says the consultation document is flawed. 

Mr Rowley says the public does not have any confidence in this consultation and that it must be brought to an end. 

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says any changes to flight paths are very important to residents and he knows because he lived under a flight path.

Mr Kerr says that Edinburgh Airport disputes many of the assertions saying that the plans have been independently assessed but he encourages the airport to take this debate on board.

The Tory MSP says every process can be improved and he is concerned that those members of the public who have been involved in this consultation may be better off and IT literate.

Mr Kerr says this means that some voices have not been heard. 

Mr Findlay say the "brass-neck" of Edinburgh Aiport "is something to behold".

The Labour MSP says there is considerable local opposition to the plans.

He says the plans are neither "fair" not "just" and that the new consultation sets community against community.

Mr Findlay says "it is a divide and rule strategy" as members of the community are asked which community should be affected.

He says the Scottish government are backing airport expansion plans and policies are designed to increase the number of flights and number of routes.

It is about "fattening up Edinburgh Airport for a future sale," he says.

Mr Findlay says uses his motion to express growing concerns about Edinburgh Airport’s plan to introduce new flight paths.

The Labour MSP says there was a number of flaws within the consultation that have been identified, including the lack of inclusion of a health impact assessment of the proposed changes to airspace use since 2014.

Image source, bbc

That, he says,  despite a number of residents reporting mental and physical health effects due to increased noise over their homes, 

Mr Findlay says there is a lack of evidence for the assertion that 25,000 fewer properties will be overflown as a result of the changes

He calls for the Scottish government to urge the Civil Aviation Authority to demand that Edinburgh Airport scraps what he says is a flawed consultation and begins the process again.

Image source, Edinburgh Airport

In January we reported Edinburgh Airport had launched the second phase of consultation on proposed new flight paths.

The airport's operators said its preferred options would see 25,000 fewer people being directly under approach and take-off routes.

More than 5,000 people responded to the first round of consultation which ended in September 2016.

Any change to flight paths around the airport would have to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Local campaign group Edinburgh Airport Watch said the flight path changes would have "a negative affect on the health and well being of hundreds of thousands of people across West Lothian, Falkirk and Fife".  

Read more here.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says he regrets that no SNP or Tory has signed his motion.

Mr Findlay says people living near an airport know they need to expect some disruption but it is up to airports to make sure this is kept to a minimum.

The Labour MSP says there is no evidence base for an expansion of Edinburgh Airport.

"The consultation process has been shambolic and flawed," he says.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay will now lead a member's debate entitled 'Flawed Airport Consultation'

Ms Davidson raises a point of order saying Ms Sturgeon said there was not fag paper between her and her predecessor Alex Salmond on the election, quoting the former first minister who was speaking at the same time. 

Ms Sturgeon tries to reply but is told by Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh that it is for the chair.

Mr Macintosh says it was not a point of order, to some grumbling disquiet.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame says the introduction of free personal care has saved the Treasury tens of millions of pounds.

Ms Grahame says it is hypocritical that as the Tories defends the "rape clause" they do not pay this money back.

The first minister says over the past 15 years, £600m that should have been helping Scotland's old people is in the pockets of the Treasury.

Image source, Science Photo Library

Thousands of elderly people are missing out on free personal care because of delays to assessments and care arrangements, a charity has claimed.

Age Scotland says official figures suggest that each year about 8,640 people in Scotland wait longer than six weeks for a council care assessment.

The average "worst case" is between two weeks and five months, with the longest delay of 18 months recorded in 2014/15.

Cosla, the umbrella body for local councils, declined to comment.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley asks what action the Scottish government will take to ensure that older people receive the free personal care payments that they are entitled to, in light of research by Age Scotland, which suggests that thousands are missing out due to delays in assessing and arranging care. 

Ms Sturgeon says no-one should have to wait longer than necessary to receive their care package.

Mr Rowley says too many families experiences of health and social care have not been good ones.

The Labour MSP calls on the first minister to set up a review of the rolling out of integrated health and social care. 

Ms Sturgeon says the government took the step to formally integrate health and social care to improve the treatment of the elderly.

She says the progress of integration is under constant monitoring and review.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks what the Scottish government's position is on the accuracy of the GERS figures.

Ms Sturgeon says it has been independently assessed to ensure high value.

The first minister points out GERS are based on a range of estimates.

Mr Kerr says there has been a concerted campaign to undermine GERS.

The first minster repeats that GERS are a national statistic publication but it does not tell us much about the finances of an independent Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon says GERS are official statistics of high quality.

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor asks the first minister what action the Scottish government is taking to protect children and young people online.

The first minister outlines the action plan recently launched to help keep children online safe.

She says social media providers have a key role and it is reassuring to see the industry take the issue seriously. 

Ms Sturgeon says the internet is overwhelmingly a source for good, but the dangers must be tackled.