MSPs take evidence on puppy dog tail shortening
Details of the new social security payments to be delivered by the Scottish government are outlined to parliament by Social Security Secretary Angela Constance
Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville gives a ministerial statement on widening access to higher education
The Equalities and Human Rights Committee leads a debate on destitution, asylum and insecure immigration status in Scotland
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie leads this evenings member's debate on the Vale of Leven Hospital GP out-of-hours service
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says her party welcome the announcement and the plans for Best Start Grant.
Ms McNeill asks if Ms Constance can say how many families will be helped by this grant.
The Labour MSP also asks if Ms Constance agrees that a radical approach is required in terms of uptake of the grant.
Image source, bbcSocial Security Secretary Angela Constance
Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says it is too much to expect the Tories to give a wholehearted welcome to the progress made on social security.
Ms Constance says: "This is a journey that we will travel together."
She says from next year money will be put into the pockets of hard pressed families, the bereaved and those in a caring role.
The minister says these are the people that are paying the price of Tory cuts and cruelty.
She says the costs of the Best Start Grant will be £20m.
Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says his party have been calling on the government to use its powers and he welcomes that it is now doing so.
Mr Tomkins says the Scottish government cannot deliver these benefits without the help of the DWP.
The Tory MSP says the social security secretary has given no details to where the DWP will be or how many jobs are required.
He asks how much the Best Start Grant is going to cost and how it will work.
Image source, bbcMs Constance says: "All of this is, of course, subject to the consideration of parliament."
She says: "The benefits that we will deliver may be different in nature but there is one common thread that binds – an investment in the people of Scotland."
Image source, SPLMs Constance says the First Minister committed in October 2015 to increasing the level of Carer’s Allowance to that of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
That commitment will be achieved by next summer says the social security secretary.
She says: "We will invest over £30 million a year in increasing this support.
"And I am delighted that this policy will now be delivered by the Scottish Government."
Image source, ThinkstockThe minister says the Scottish government will also deliver the new Funeral Expense Assistance by summer 2019.
She says: "We have already committed that we will aim to process applications within ten working days of receipt of a completed application."
The minister says the government will start delivery of Scotland’s first new benefit ,the new Best Start Grant, by summer 2019.
This replacement to the Sure Start Maternity Grant, is a substantial investment in a child’s early years.
The government will also provide two payments of £250 during a child’s early years, around the time they start nursery and before starting school.
Ms Constance says during this parliament, ten benefits will transfer to Holyrood.
The minister says DHPs have already transferred successfully and are delivered by local authorities.
She says: "One of the lessons from previous social security changes by the UK Government is that arbitrary target dates, without a clear plan to meet them, will lead to failure as we have seen with Universal Credit."
Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says this is the largest and most complex change since devolution.
Ms Constance says the government is drawing on the experience of mitigating the bedroom tax.
She says a new social security agency will be created.
The social security secretary says people with lived experience will inform the journey.
She says there will be no contracting with the private sector to undertake assessment for disability benefits.
Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says today she will outline plans for the first benefits to be delivered by the government.
Ms Constance says there include the best start grant, funeral expense supplement and the supplement to the carer's allowance.
She says this is another milestone in the new Scottish social security system.
Image source, PAThe Scottish government will now give a ministerial statement on social security benefits.
Image source, bbcMs Mitchell
Ms Mitchell says the impact of the improvement project does not stop with delays and disruption but also impacts on businesses.
The Tory MSP asks Mr Brown to join her and meet with businesses affected.
Mr Brown says he is more than happy to look at these issues.
He says there is not one word of congratulations over a fantastic infrastructure project, although he accepts there have been delays.
Work at the Raith Interchange, including the building of a new underpass, has been going on since 2014
Mr Brown says the government has responded to every letter that he's received from the member.
The economy secretary says the major roads will be open fully by the end of next week.
He says the work will go on until September but will not affect peak-time traffic.
Mr Brown says the contractors are trying to do work overnight and during the bank holiday but that he apologises for any disruption.
Image source, bbcEconomy Secretary Keith Brown
Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the final section of new motorways will open fully over the coming days.
They will be fully open by the end of this week says Mr Brown.
Ms Mitchell says she will be surprised if we can say the roadworks have been completed by the end of the week.
She says there is inadequate signage and a lack of coordination and she calls on the cabinet secretary to look at these vexing issues.
Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell ask the Scottish government, in light of disruption over the bank holiday weekend arising from the M8 M73 M74 improvements projects, whether it will confirm the completion date of the work and provide details of how Transport Scotland plans to reduce the level of disruption.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says Mr Flanagan has not been sharing information with other board members.
Ms Baillie asks if this is another failing and if this meets the transparency requirements for a board member in the government's view.
Mr Matheson says Mr Flanagan has accepted his mistake and that it was "unacceptable".
The justice secretary says there is a due process that the government must go through.
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says Andrew Flanagan was contrite in the sub-committee.
Mr McArthur asks if Mr Matheson believes that the cutlure shift in the SPA will not be possible without a change a the top.
Mr Matheson says the presumption in favour of board conduct taking place in public is the right one.
He says he has asked HMICS to bring forward the initial work into reviewing the SPA.
The justice secretary says the SPA must operate in an open and transparent manner.
Green MSP John Finnie says "Andrew Flanagan's position is untenable and he must go."
Mr Finnie asks about the impact Mr Flanagan's behaviour may have on recruiting women and minorities into Police Scotland.
Mr Matheson says it is a very good point and that he is clear that the police and its board must do all it can to improve diversity.
Tory MSP Douglas Ross says the evidence is very clear Andrew Flanagan's time as chair of the SPA should be over.
Mr Ross asks if the government continues to have full faith in him.
Mr Matheson says he is surprised that Mr Ross does not want the government to go through due process.
Mr Matheson says he has given assurances that the report will be considered and once he has considered it the government can make its decision.
The justice secretary says, in terms of the structure of the SPA, HMICS are looking at the governance of it.
He says there are areas which "have not worked as well as they should have."
Mr Matheson says he has repeatedly made clear that the SPA must improve on transparency.