Summary

  • MSPs take evidence on a petition calling for the introduction of individual risk-based blood donation in Scotland

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition ministers during first minister's questions

  • Labour MSP Neil Findlay leads this afternoon's member's debate entitled 'Flawed Airport Consultation'

  • Social Security Minister Jeanne Freeman will no giver a ministerial statement on Scotland's Social Security Agency

  • MSPs debate the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) Bill at stage 1

  1. Crofter and farmer paymentspublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Lib dem MSP Tavish Scott says the computers for payments to farmers and crofters do not work.

    Ms Sturgeon says Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing will discuss the issue with Mr Scott.

  2. Background: College lecturers in Scotland strike over paypublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Scottish college lecturers have gone on strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.

    Members of the EIS Further Education Lecturers' Association want to see more action taken to end differences in pay between colleges.

    Lecturers
    Image caption,

    Lecturers have planned a series of strike dates over the next two months

    The union said lecturers had waited with "great patience" for colleges to honour a deal agreed a year ago.

    Colleges Scotland said the action was "hugely disappointing" at a "critical time" for students.

    The union has threatened to strike three days every week if the dispute is not settled.

  3. College lecturers strikepublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon says college lecturers are on strike today.

    Ms Lennon says the SNP have been promising equal pay since 2011.

    She says the deal still has not been honoured.

    The first minister says she wants to see the dispute resolved as the strike action is in no-ones interests.

    Ms Sturgeon says this is a disupte about terms and condition and she encourages the employers to go the extra mile and resolve this dispute.

    She says the move to national bargaining is a step forward.

  4. 'Does she really think we are all buttoned up the back?'published at 12:33 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Mr Rennie asks "Does she really think we are all buttoned up the back?"

    He says the first minister's predecessor says the election is about independence.

    The Scottish Lib Dem leader calls for the indyref2 campaign to be scrapped.

    Ms Sturgeon says Willie Rennie is campaigning for a second EU referendum and suggests he may be buttoned up at the back.

    The first minister says it is the opposition parties who only want to talk about independence as a smokescreen.

  5. Postpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

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  6. Rennie accuses first minister of being 'shifty' over EUpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Willie Rennie

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says the first minister has done nothing in the last 30 minutes to make her party not look "shifty" on Europe and independence.

    Mr Rennie asks what the government's position is today.

    The first minister says she supports Scotland being independent and being and independent member of the EU.

  7. Postpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

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  8. Sturgeon says the Scottish government is advocating good aviation connections for Scotlandpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie says the vote in the chamber this week was not on rates and bands.

    Mr Harvie says it is perfectly clear that air passenger duty has not stopped growth of connectivity.

    He says we should be listening to those whose lives will be affected by increased pollution.

    The first minister says it is important all voices are listened to.

    She says the Scottish government is advocating good aviation connections for Scotland.

  9. Postpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

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  10. Background: Scottish aviation tax bill passes first Holyrood votepublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    AirportImage source, AFP/Getty
    Image caption,

    The Scottish government wants to halve air passenger duty before ultimately scrapping it altogether

    Plans for a devolved aviation tax have passed the first legislative hurdle after a vote at Holyrood.

    The Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Bill is designed to replace air passenger duty with a devolved Scottish levy.

    Ministers want to cut the tax by 50% before eventually abolishing it "when finances allow".

    MSPs backed the general principles of the bill in the first stage of the legislative process, but many asked for more details on the plans.

  11. Tax cut for aviation 'unfair' says Harviepublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Patrick Harvie

    Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh tells off Deputy First Minister John Swinney for shouting across the chamber.

    Back to business, and Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie says the government proposes tax cuts for aviation which will increase carbon emissions.

    Mr Harvie says the tax cut will also be very unfair, while public transport remains expensive and unreliable.

    Ms Strurgeon says Scotland is meeting its climate change targets.

    The first minister says any policy that has an adverse affect on emission means the Scottish government will have to balance that elsewhere.

    She says reducing Air Departure Tax will improve the connectivity of Scotland.

  12. Postpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Badges being worn by MSPs today to support MS Awareness Week

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  13. Postpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

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  14. St Abbs Lifeboat Trust questionpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Tory MSP John Lamont raises the issue of the St Abbs Lifeboat Trust and the St Abbs Community Trust.

    The first minister says the water and sewerage charge of £900 that has gone to the St Abbs Community Trust was due to" their excellent work campaigning" for the lifeboat and she says she has instructed her officials to look into this.

  15. Background: Jobs threatened at Diageo bottling plants in Fife and Glasgowpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    DiageoImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Diageo is the world's largest producer of Scotch whisky

    More than 100 jobs could go at Diageo bottling plants in Glasgow and Fife, with plans by the drinks giant to move some packaging to Italy.

    Seventy jobs are expected to go at Leven by the end of the year and 35 at Shieldhall, unless new bottling contracts can be won.

    Diageo's bottling plant in Italy is running below capacity after it disposed of its wine business.

    Unions at the main distiller of Scotch whisky strongly criticised the move.

  16. Concerns about job losses at Diageopublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth raises concerns about job losses at Diageo.

    Ms Sturgeon says she was very concerned about the situation and says the government will do all it can to help.

    She says it is really troubling the GMB has raised concerns about the impact of Brexit but got little response from the UK government.

    The first minister says this is an example of the threat of Brexit to Scotland.

  17. Background: What's the thinking behind Swinney's new teacher recruitment plan?published at 12:17 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Teacher and pupilsImage source, Thinkstock

    Education Secretary John Swinney announced what he says is an "innovative plan" to broaden routes into teaching in November. 

    Take a look at what's behind the raft of new measures.

  18. Sturgeon says the commitment to closing the attainment gap is 'absolute'published at 12:17 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Ms Dugdale says the reality is that there are 700 teacher vacancies in Scotland, 400 in secondary schools where exams are about to start.

    The Scottish Labour leader says she seen internal documents saying it could take three years to sort this out.

    She asks if the first minister can keep a straight face and say education is her number one priority.

    The first minister points to extra funding to train 371 teachers.

    Ms Sturgeon says the commitment to closing the attainment gap is absolute. 

  19. Postpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

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  20. Scottish Labour leader says there is a teacher shortagepublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 27 April 2017

    Ms Dugdale says it is the first minister that has cut £170m from local services this year alone. 

    The Scottish Labour leader says there is a teacher shortage.

    The first minister says the government has increased the intake to teacher training.

    She says there is £400m extra for council services this year.