School meals should include fewer puddings and more fresh vegetables, according to a report.

Obesity Action Scotland (OAS) said improvements to school meals could play an important part in reducing childhood obesity.

It wants to highlight the issue ahead of the council elections in two weeks' time.

The Scottish government said a review of school food and drink nutritional standards was under way.

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani asks when the 2014 guidance on school meals will be reviewed.  

Image source, bbc

Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says the government has provided funding for pre-entry medical courses. 

Mr McArthur says school pupils need to believe that entry into medical courses is achievable and he says work experience is an important part of this.

The Lib Dem MSP asks what plans are in place to make it a more level playing field for island students.

Ms Somerville says she agrees with the premise of what Mr McArthur is saying and the programmes take rurality into account. 

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks what support the government offers to people from island communities who want to access university medical courses.

Education and skills ministers are now in the hot seats for portfolio questions.

Image source, bbc

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the government is committed to ensuring fairness in all taxes. 

Mr Harvie says there was no chance Mr Mackay was going to say council tax and it seems clear council tax is out of step with the government's own principles.

The Scottish Green Party co-convener says a new system should be available rather than the council tax system which is "broken". 

mr Mackay says the government has been delivering its manifesto commitments

Councils welcomed an increase in the amount of money the government plans to give them in the coming year - but few are celebrating.

Critics argue councils will still get less government money than this year which they actually have control over.

The government agreed a budget deal in February to give councils £160 million more than previously planned.

Councils are now working out just what impact this will have on their own finances.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie asks what the government considers to be the fairest system for councils to raise local revenue.

Image source, bbc

Brexit Minister Mike Russell says that EU funding supports third sectors organisations across Scotland and that the Scottish government will do what it can to protect Scotland's place in Europe.

Ms Fee says third sector organisations are concerned over Brexit and new funding streams must be investigated.

Mr Russell says he has been meeting with the third sector nationally and locally and that the UK government has not been doing likewise. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Scottish charities have gone into "survival mode" amid severe financial pressures, according to a report published in February.

Analysis by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) found there has been a sharp drop in confidence in the third sector.

It called on the Scottish government and councils to help the sector by awarding fairer funding packages.

The Scottish government wants a three-year funding cycle to give charities greater stability.

Labour MSP Mary Fee asks the Scottish Government how leaving the EU will impact on third sector funding in the West Scotland region.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says only 15% of the funding came from the Scottish government and asks if Mr Ewing will join him in welcoming the funding from the UK government.

Mr Ewing says the responsibility lies with the UK government and that "the Tories are not fit to stand up for Scotland". 

Rural Economy and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing says the cost cannot be determined yet and that "we are currently pre-procurement". 

Mr Ewing says he can confirm that the government will invest £112m in 2017-18 to improve digital infrastructure to achieve 95% fibre broadband coverage across Scotland and this is in addition to £18m being re-invested.

Mr Rumbles asks by what date the government will be told about the costs. 

Image source, bbc

Mr Ewing says he has faith in the finance minister to deliver figures to the parliament in due course.

The connectivity secretary says he has repeatedly called for meetings with the UK government minister Matt Hancock, to no avail.

He uses the same "Hancock's Half Hour" gag he used in committee this morning.  

Image source, Thinkstock

In December we reported that almost £18m is to be invested in broadband services in Scotland to improve speeds in rural areas.

The money is part of a £440m UK package aimed at delivering access to superfast broadband.

The cash comes from "efficiency savings" and money returned by BT as part of the UK government's broadband rollout scheme.

Critics said they feared the scheme would not benefit those with the worst service.

Green MSP Mike Rumbles asks whether the government will provide an update on the cost of delivering 100% broadband coverage by 2021, and how much it has invested in this programme to date.

Image source, bbc

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the £800m figure "is deliberately misleading". 

Ms Harris says the government's analysis has been described as "poor" and asks what the government are doing. 

Mr Mackay says that Ms Harris is not fairly representing the facts.

Mr Mackay says the government forecasts are "close within range". 

Tory MSP Alison Harris asks the Scottish government for what reason its Land and Buildings Transaction Tax will generate £800 million less than it originally estimated. 

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Shona Robison says the government are working to provide support to all boards to ensure all patients are treated as soon as possible.

Mr Johnson says doctors are being told to send patients home and others are having to wait 17 hours in A&E.

The Labour MSP asks what assurances can be given that "the waiting list crisis will end".

Ms Robison says the NHS has record levels of resources but that demand is increasing.

The health secretary says the long waits are not acceptable and boards have said that these times will be brought down. 

She says the performance "is actually a very good one" at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary A&E. 

One of Scotland's biggest hospitals was forced to raise a major alert after 36 patients waited for up to 17 hours in the accident and emergency department.

A Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh memo on Thursday raised safety concerns for patients, urging staff to free up beds.

NHS Lothian said it had an extremely busy day on 20 April but the situation was resolved within hours.

NHS Scotland figures show the hospital has been meeting the 95% target of patients being seen within four hours.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks what action the government is taking to reduce waiting times at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.