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

  1. Harvie question focuses on introduction of standardised testingpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Patrick Harvie

    Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says his party forced the SNP to reverse £160m of cuts to councils.

    Mr Harvie calls for more funding for councils and raises the issue of standardised testing.

    Ms Sturgeon says it is important that there is greater flexibility and autonomy "for our schools".

    The first minister calls for more rigour in assessments which is why standardised testing is being introduced.

    She adds that resource should be in the hands of head teachers.

  2. Postpublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

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  3. Waiting listspublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks if the first minister can offer any hope to those who are on orthopaedic waiting lists. 

    Ms Baillie asks why, at the beginning of the financial year, is Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board "rationing treatment".

    The first minister says NHS boards are investing to ensure there are short waiting times and they are shorter than when the NHS took office.

    M Sturgeon says she wants to know about the details of the case Jackie Baillie has outlined.

  4. Ms Sturgeon says funding and staff levels in the NHS are at record highspublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Ms Dugdale says the council tax is unfair and regressive and the SNP have been telling people that for 10 years.

    The Scottish Labour leader says the first minister claims to protect the NHS but services face cuts.

    Ms Dugdale says the first minister spends every waking moment plotting indyref2, having said education is her priority.

    She says Ms Sturgeon has cut £1.5bn from council services.

    The first minister says Kezia Dugdale wants to see austerity passed on to the poorest by leaving power at Westminster.

    Ms Sturgeon adds that funding and staff levels in the NHS are at record highs.

    She asks why only Labour councils are freezing the council tax if there is a lack of funds?

  5. Dugdale says SNP have voted against a 50p top rate of tax no less than eight timespublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Kezia Dugdale

    Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale says the first minister has spent 10 years promising to cut the council tax.

    Ms Dugdale says the first minister has just said "we shouldn't bother to tax the rich because they will avoid it".

    She adds that the SNP have voted against a 50p top rate of tax no less than eight times. 

    The first minister says the problem was Holyrood do not have the powers to stop the wealthiest from avoiding paying tax.

    Ms Sturgeon says she wants these powers and Ms Dugdale wants them to remain at Westminster.

  6. Postpublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

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  7. Taxing questionpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale says the first minister supported a 50p tax rate in 2015, in 2016 she said she did not and now in 2017 she says she supports it again.

    Ms Sturgeon says in 2016 she was given advice there would be a reduction in revenue with the introduction of a 50p tax rate.

  8. Background: Government funds 371 new teacher training placespublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Pupils
    Image caption,

    The Scottish government said the number of training places available would rise by 371 to 3,861

    Hundreds more teacher training places are to be made available at Scottish universities from September.

    Education Secretary John Swinney said the number of places would rise by 371 to a total of 3,861 at the start of the next academic year.

    Mr Swinney said the places would be funded by more than £3m of Scottish government cash.

    The announcement follows criticism from political opponents over falling standards in Scotland's schools.

  9. Ruth Davidson accuses SNP of 'a 10 year record of failure'published at 13:41 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Ruth Davidson

    Ms Davidson says: "Jam tomorrow just doesn't cut it."

    The Scottish Conservative leader accuses the SNP of a "ten year record of failure".

    Ms Sturgeon says the SNP will go into the elections tomorrow pointing to the improvements that have been made and highlighting the attainment fund.

    She brandishes a leaflet which she says mentions herself or independence more than 40 times.

    The first minister says the Tories are not putting forward any polices as they have a constitutional obsession.

  10. Sturgeon says governance review recommendations will be published shortlypublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Ms Davidson says teachers are working under guidance that is "self-evident lunacy".

    The Scottish Conservative leader says there are 4,000 fewer teachers than there were in 2007.

    She says councils want more flexibility, but John Swinney's promised review of governance has been delayed again and again.

    The first minister says the governance review will be published shortly once all the submissions have been analysed.

    Ms Sturgeon says she expects the opposition parties will oppose all the recommendations that emerge.

  11. Ms Sturgeon says there are improvements already being madepublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Nicola Sturgeon

    Ms Sturgeon says the government now publishes data on school performance.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says the first minister did not acknowledge the failures on her watch.

    She turns her sights on science, saying the Sutton Trust has highlighted a decline.

    Ms Davidson asks why the drop of standards has happened on her watch.

    The first minister says Ms Davidson is doing a disservice to young people across the country as there are record higher passes.

    Ms Sturgeon says there are improvements already being made.

  12. Background: Scottish schools data published for first timepublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    PupilsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Curriculum for Excellence levels improve in secondary school, statistics show

    Data about how well schools in Scotland do on reading, writing and numeracy was published for the first time in December.

    But the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels information sets were made available with a warning.

    The Scottish government said they required further development before their accuracy could be relied upon.

    The statistics come as it was revealed that pupils do less well in reading, writing and numeracy through their primary years.

  13. Numeracy and literacypublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says Ms Sturgeon's predecessor was asked about children being "functionally illiterate".

    Ms Davidson asks why in 2011-2015 did the proportion of children performing well in numeracy fell?

    The first minister says the attainment challenge and fund have been put in place to channel resources to headteachers to raise attainment.

  14. First minister's questions beginspublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    First minister's questions collageImage source, Scottish Parliament/PA

    Opposition party leaders will now quiz Nicola Sturgeon during first minister's questions.

  15. Coming up this afternoon...first minister's questionspublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    We have a rather unusual afternoon in the chamber with three separate question sessions. 

    First up we will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions at 1.30pm.

    Nicola Sturgeon is going to be quizzed by opposition MSPs today due to the local government election tomorrow.

    First minister's questions collageImage source, Scottish Parliament/PA

    This will be followed by general questions which has also been moved from its regular Thursday slot.

    Education and skills ministers will then take the hot seats for a slightly later addition of Wednesday's regular portfolio questions. 

    Finally decision time comes at the earlier time of 3:15pm this afternoon, before MSPs scurry out of Holyrood to hit the pavements around Scotland for some frantic leafletting.

  16. That ends the committee...published at 11:35 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Committees

    Tory MSP Edward Mountain moves the committee into private session.

  17. Subordinate legislationpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    The commitee will now consider the following negative instruments:

    • The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Angus Council) Designation Order 2017 (SSI 2017/79, external
    • The Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (Angus Council Parking Area) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/80, external
    • The Road Traffic (Parking Adjudicators) (Angus Council) Regulations 2017 (SS1 2017/81, external
    • The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Stirling Council) Designation Order 2017 (SSI 2017/82, external
    • The Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (Stirling Council Parking Area) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/83, external
    • The Road Traffic (Parking Adjudicators) (Stirling Council) Regulations 2017 (SS1 2017/84, external
  18. That ends this evidence session...published at 11:30 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Robbie McGhee

    Committee convener Edward Mountain asks what work is being done to see if it is possible to turn up the power of copper wires which cannot be done at the moment because of EU law.

    Robbie McGhee from the Scottish government says that will be a dialogue between Openreach and Ofcom. 

    Mr Mountain thanks the witnesses and ends the evidence session. 

  19. Role of Community Broadband Scotlandpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks what happens if a supplier goes bankrupt, does the government underwrite that?

    Mr Ewing says the government works with Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) on this issue.

    Connectivity Secretary Fergus EwingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing

    Community Broadband Scotland was launched in August 2012 to provide a one-stop-shop for rural community groups to develop broadband coverage in their areas.  

    Mr Chapman says it is important CBS ensures suppliers are financially robust.

    The minister says Mr Chapman can write to him about individual cases.

  20. Will CBS cease to fund projects?published at 11:19 British Summer Time 3 May 2017

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asks if these are the last projects Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) will fund.

    Robbie McGhee from the Scottish government says he wouldn't say it is the last projects CBS will fund but that it may not be useful to have a lot of community projects "popping up" while there is large scale procurement projects running.

    Mr McGhee says the knowledge and experience of CBS will be invaluable as the project proceeds.