MSPs will now debate the Equality and Human Rights Committee's report: Hidden Lives New Beginnings: Destitution, asylum and insecure immigration status in Scotland, external.

The motion from committee convener Christina McKelvie says destitution has a detrimental impact on people, affecting their mental health, their ability to access health care

It says it also increases their risk of exploitation and abuse

The motion thanks those who shared their personal experience of being destitute with the Equalities and Human Rights Committee.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles is asked again by the deputy presiding officer to apologise after starting into his questions

Mr Rumbles says: "I do apologise if there seems to be a misunderstanding between us."

Ms Grahame speaks over him saying thank you for the apology.

Mr Rumbles finally asks if the halving of the value of grants and bursaries over the last five years will help widen access.

The minister says student support is being looked at and the level of student debt in Scotland is the lowest.

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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says he is not a back-bencher after being told off by Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame for taking too long to ask his question.

Mr Rumbles says he will take this up with the bureau.

Ms Grahame reacts angrily: "How dare you speak to me like that?"

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She calls for an apology, but Mr Rumbles carries on without apologising.

Ms Grahame orders him to sit down.

Green MSP Ross Greer asks how the government will ensure barriers outside the education portfolio will be looked at such as the costs of public transport.

Ms Somerville says a holistic approach must be taken such as the costs of transport to students.

The higher education minister says all these items will be looked at.

Education Committee convener and SNP MSP James Dornan says he is delighted by the bursary for young people with care experience and asks how the age limit of 26 was arrived at.

Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says the government considered very carefully the eligibility for the bursary and she says anyone who has had looked after experience would be eligible for it up until that age.

Labour MSP Iain Gray says the government's purpose about equal access is shared by his party and he welcomes the update.

Mr Gray agrees with the minister that the pace of change is too slow.

The Scottish Labour education spokesperson asks if the minister has confidence that the measures announced today will make a leap from 10 to 16% in four years.

He asks if the minister will reinstate ring fenced funding to meet the 2021 target.

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Ms Somerville says Mr Gray is right to outline the challenge in meeting the targets.

The higher education minister says the government must work with the sector to make sure they are up to meeting the challenge.

She says the foundation of the delivery group will bring together those responsible for bringing about the change necessary.

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks whether the government will address concerns of Audit Scotland over the financial stability of the university sector.

Ms Smith says there are students with strong qualifications that are finding it more difficult to get into university.

She asks if the government are planning on providing more bursary support.

Ms Somerville says the government are investing £1bn in the university sector.

The higher education secretary says there is a systematic unfairness about the way that the publicly funded places that currently exist are being filled.

She says she would urge caution in using UK comparisons because it is two very different systems.

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The minister says implementing the Blueprint for Fairness is undoubtedly challenging for everyone involved.

She says it also provides a significant opportunity to change our education system and in the process, change the lives of the young people who need equal chances and choices the most.

The minister says the government must develop more comprehensive methodology to identify the background of students'

She requires requires the whole education system to work together to deliver collectively on the Blueprint’s recommendations.

Ms Somerville says: "I can therefore announce today the establishment of a delivery group to coordinate and monitor progress of implementation across all parts of the education system.

"This group will include those with a key responsibility for delivery of aspects of change, and by individuals and representatives with a wider stake in the outcome of our actions, such as NUS Scotland.

It will, of course, involve Sir Peter Scott, our Commissioner for Fair Access and in recognition of the importance government places on this Group’s role, I will be chairing that myself."

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The minister says her expectation for the coming year is that the Scottish Funding Council will ensure that the access targets being set through the outcome agreement process are sufficient to deliver the government's interim targets.

She says she is "acutely aware of the lead in time that institutions need to make changes to admissions processes and to ensure these are communicated to prospective students in time for them to apply.

"Over the next 12 months, I therefore expect universities to make clear and demonstrable progress in this area, that will ensure delivery of access thresholds in time for academic year 2019/20."

The minister says from this academic year, 2017-18, care experienced students under 26 can apply for a bursary of £7,625 to support living costs span.

She says over 100 young people with care experience have been awarded a bursary for study in 2017-18.

Ms Somerville says: "From 2018/19, institutions have been advised that they will be expected to use additional widening access places solely to support the intake of students from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland."

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The minister says the government established a Commission on Widening Access and accepted all 34 recommendations in its Blueprint for Fairness.

She says the government has accepted its ambitious targets to widen access, so that by 2030, 20% of students entering university will be from Scotland’s 20% most deprived backgrounds.

She says the government have published a written report of progress, external.

The minister says there are also clear signs of progress in terms of outcomes for our young people.

Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says the Scottish government wants every child, no matter their background, to have an equal chance of going to university.

She says: "Statistics show that currently, that is not the case

"Where you are born, the area you grow up in conspire to make it harder – much harder – for young people from Scotland’s most deprived backgrounds.

"That is not acceptable."

In May 2016 we reported that young Scots from disadvantaged areas were four times less likely to go to university than those from wealthy backgrounds.

Their Sutton Trust study showed 90% of growth in higher education places for disadvantaged students came from colleges, not universities.

It said its findings showed a "shocking access gap".

The Scottish government said university access for students from poorer areas was up by 29% since it came to power.

Read more here.

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Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville will now give a ministerial statement on widening access to higher education.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton echoes much of the praise for the minister for her statement.

Mr Cole-Hamilton asks about Funeral Expense Assistance.

He asks what representations the Scottish government has made in terms of a spousein his constituency losing support on being widowed.

Ms Constance says the government wrote to the UK government about the withdrawal of support to bereaved parents and children.

She says representations are being made to the UK government

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says she welcomes the announcement on Carer's Allowance increases but says that often this allowance is used by the costs incurred of caring.

Ms Johnstone asks if the government have taken this into account.

Ms Constance says that the government have a manifesto commitment to look at those who are caring for more than one disabled child.

The social security secretary says she is taking advice on carer's benefits from the focus group.

Increased Carer’s Allowance

• delivery from summer 2018
• increasing to the same level as Jobseeker’s Allowance
• an investment of more than £30 million a year

Best Start Grant (replacing the Sure Start Maternity Grant)

• delivery by summer 2019
• a one-off grant of £600 for the first child in low income families – an increase of £100 on the current rate
• a re-introduction of £300 for subsequent children and two payments of £250 each during a child’s early years

Funeral Expense Assistance

• delivery by summer 2019
• processing applications within 10 days – significantly faster than at present
• making it easier for people to understand if they are eligible for assistance

Image source, SPL

SNP MSP Sandra White says she welcomes the Carer's Allowance announcement and asks how many people will benefit from the increase.

Ms Constance says 70,000 carers will benefit from this supplement and it will cover the whole of the next financial year.

She says it has been a long standing commitment of the Scottish government.

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Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says Ms McNeill is right to point out the impact of the Best Start Grant and its impact on deprivation.

Ms Constance says it is estimated that 62,000 claimants will benefit from the Best Start Grant and she agrees there is work to be done on take up.