General questions beginspublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Ministers will now take general questions from MSPs.
Summary
The Connectivity Committee takes evidence on the digital strategy from Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing
Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions
NHS waiting times, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and connectivity are raised during general questions
Education and skills ministers are in the hot seats for portfolio questions
General questions beginspublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Purdah broken?published at 14:18 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Tory MSP Douglas Ross says the government has ignored purdah guidance.
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says that must be pursued with the government.
Background: Government bid to delay air pollution plan failspublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Air pollution has been described as a "public health emergency"
The UK Government has lost a court bid to delay publication of its air pollution strategy, and must now release it before the June election.
Courts had given the government until Monday 24 April to set out draft guidelines to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution.
But late last week, ministers lodged an application to delay their release until after the general election.
They argued that publication would fall foul of election "purdah" rules.
Green MSP says air quality is a 'public health crisis'published at 14:17 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks how the High Court of Justice's decision to order the UK government to publish its air pollution strategy impacts on Scotland.
The first minister says the decision relates to the timing of the publication not the content.
Ms Sturgeon says the Scottish government is committed to improving air quality.
Mr Ruskell says he is not prepared to put his family at risk on Scotland's streets in this "public heath crisis".
He asks when the first minister will review Scotland's clean air strategy.
The first minister says the government is happy to discuss with other parties how to improve the air quality plans.
Ms Sturgeon says Scotland has set more stringent air quality targets than the rest of the UK.
Background: Should sanitary products be free in Scotland?published at 14:15 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Image source, JOSS BARRATTImage caption, In "I, Daniel Blake", single mother Katie (Hayley Squires) struggles to afford essentials items
An MSP is calling for the Scottish government to provide free feminine hygiene products - saying it is a matter of "dignity" for women who cannot afford to pay.
I, Daniel Blake - a film directed by Ken Loach - includes a scene where an impoverished female character shoplifts a packet of tampons.
Scots scriptwriter Paul Laverty wrote the scene after meeting UK females who struggled to afford essential hygiene products.
A campaign has been launched by Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon calling for the Scottish government to provide free female sanitary products "for anyone who needs them".
'Period poverty' legislation to be brought to Holyroodpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks what action the government has taken to improve access to sanitary products.
Ms Sturgeon says the Scottish government is actively considering this.
The first minister says Tory welfare cuts and austerity mean the government has to do this, it seems, "with one hand tied behind our back".
Ms Lennon welcome some of the steps the Scottish government has outlined.
She says she will bring forward a member's debate on the "period poverty" issue.
The Labour MSP says no woman or girl should face the indignity of not having access to sanitary products and she calls for the right of access to be enshrined in law.
Ms Sturgeon commends Ms Lennon and says she looks forward to her private member's bill.
The first minister says sanitary products are not a luxury they are a necessity.
Background: Scottish government gives 2,513 schools attainment fund moneypublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Media caption, Schools' £120m funding to boost attainment
The Scottish government revealed in February that most of the country's schools will be handed money from the attainment fund.
Ministers are giving head teachers across the country direct access to the £120m.
The money is being divided according to how many children in primary classes and the first three years of secondary school are entitled to free meals.
The list reveals that 2,513 primary, secondary and special schools will benefit from the new scheme.
The money is in addition to the funding schools receive from their local council.
Sturgeon says the pupil equity fund will be used at the discretion of head teacherspublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Tory MSP Liz Smith asks whether headteachers will require the agreement of the relevant local authority before a decision is made about how the pupil equity fund will be spent in their schools.
The first minister says the pupil equity fund will be used at the discretion of head teachers.
Ms Smith says Scottish government documents will give national and local authority guidance on this issue and asks if headteachers will ever have true autonomy.
The first minister says guidance says the pupil equity fund says spending must be additional and be targeted at closing the attainment gap.
Ms Sturgeon says of course headteachers will share best practice and there will be accountability, but the money is to be spent at the discretion of headteachers.
Tory MSP asks why Scotland is less attractive to migrants after 10 years of the SNPpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser says Scotland attracts fewer migrants to comer to Scotland than the rest of the UK.
Mr Fraser asks why this country is less attractive to migrants after 10 years of the SNP in government.
Ms Sturgeon says that is a "disgraceful thing" and she says "Murdo Fraser hang your head in shame".
Background: Scottish population rises to new recordpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Image source, PAScotland's population continued to increase last year, rising to a record 5,404,700.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures, external showed an increase of 31,700 (0.6%) people over the year to the end of June 2016.
It said the increase was due to migration, with 31,700 more people moving to Scotland than leaving.
The number of deaths exceeded births by 800, while other changes resulted in an increase of 800 people.
First minister says migrants from outside the UK positively contribute to Scotland's societypublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson asks what the government's response is to Scotland's population rising to an all-time high of 5.4 million.
The first minister welcomes the news as population growth is a key driver of sustainable economic growth.
Ms Sturgeon says migrants from outside the UK positively contribute to Scotland's society and "we should take every opportunity to welcome them".
She says continued inward migration is critical to maintaining population growth, which in turn is critical to economic growth.
The first minister says any serious restrictions to the ability of EU citizens to live in Scotland would be extremely damaging.
Are they league tables or not?published at 14:02 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says plans for the publication of school league tables will lead to teachers teaching to the test.
The first minister says the very premise of the question is wrong as the test scores will not be published.
Ms Sturgeon says the teacher judgement is more rigorous and goes beyond test scores.
Postpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
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End of twitter postBackground: Glasgow Airport passenger drop-off now £2published at 14:01 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Media caption, Glasgow Airport increases passenger drop-off charge to £2
Glasgow Airport increases its passenger drop-off charge to £2 for a stay of up to ten minutes.
A new pick-up and drop-off point opposite the main terminal building has been opened with the old area at Caledonian Way West closing.
The airport said the new facility was the final stage of a wider scheme of works to reduce congestion around the airport's road network.
'Public fury' at £2 drop off fee at Glasgow airport says Labour MSPpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill raises the issue of the £2 drop off fee at Glasgow airport and asks the first minister to condemn it.
Ms McNeill says there is "public fury at this".
The first minister says she understands the concerns, but says it is a matter for Glasgow Airport.
'Increase in serious assaults, murders and robbery'published at 13:59 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Tory MSP Douglas Ross says the BBC has reported an increase in serious assaults, murders and robbery.
Ms Sturgeon says these are management figures not offical figures.
The first minister says there has been a long term trend of reduction in non-sexual violent crime.
Background: MSPs condemn child tax credit reform 'rape clause'published at 13:57 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Image source, Getty ImagesMSPs condemned changes to child tax credits and a controversial provision known as the "rape clause" last month.
UK government welfare reforms cut child tax credit and Universal Credit for third or subsequent children.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led a Holyrood debate saying parliament should be "fundamentally opposed" to the two-child policy.
However, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson defended the plans on grounds of financial responsibility.
'Rape clause'published at 13:57 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
SNP MSP Emma Harper says last night on STV Ruth Davidson repeated the "fiction" that women only had to tick a box to get tax credits if they had been raped, which resulted in a third child.
Ms Sturgeon says that saying that is "disgraceful" and shows a "complete lack of empathy".
Harvie calls for more resources to reverse decline in teacher numberspublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says there is concern standardised testing will be used as league tables.
Mr Harvie says headteachers want to focus on teaching and education.
He says to reverse the decline in teacher numbers the overall level of resource needs to higher.
Ms Sturgeon says higher rate tax payers are paying a bit more in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK.
She adds that in this financial year there is additional spending power for local services of £400m.
Background: Row over 'delay' to Scottish education reform billpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
The Scottish government was accused of kicking education reform "into the long grass" in March, after a delay to its Education Bill.
Nicola Sturgeon defended "right and proper" plans to put back legislation with a large number of consultation responses to consider.
Education was raised by all opposition parties during the weekly session of first minister's questions.
There were angry exchanges as the government was accused of "stalling".