Education Secretary John Swinney says that the evidence is clear that the strength and quality in leadership is clear.

Mr Swinney says head teachers will be the managers of schools and will be free to decide on curriculum content.

The education secretary says the government wants all parents to engage with schools and says children and young people will be at the heart of education.

"Parents should be involved in the general running of schools," he says.

Mr Swinney says: "The centre-piece of these reforms is a package of sweeping new powers for schools so that education is led by teachers, parents and communities.

"We will put the power to directly change lives into the hands of those with the expertise and insight to target resources at the greatest need.

"Schools have the expertise and insight to target resources to greatest effect. "So they will be responsible for attainment, delivering improvement and transforming children's lives. This will be supported by a new structure with three key pillars - · enhanced career and development opportunities for teachers; · improvement services delivered by new regional collaboratives; and support services from councils."

Education Secretary John Swinney rises to give the government's education statement.

Plans for a major shake-up in the way schools are governed will be set out by the Scottish government later.

The government has been reviewing what powers schools and councils should have.

It has also been looking at what planned new regional boards should do.

Education Secretary John Swinney will set out the proposals to the Scottish Parliament. Councils are fiercely protective of their role in the education system.

Virtually every state-funded school in Scotland is run by the local council.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney gives a ministerial statement on education governance.

Labour MSP David Stewart says the SPCB recognise the dangers of cyber-attacks and there are effective security arrangements in place.

Ms Lennon asks if there is any advice available for members and staff on security and the use of USB devices.

Mr Stewart says there is advice and reports available.

Image source, Getty Images

Last month we reported that the Scottish government was working closely with health officials following a global cyber hack.

Eleven of Scotland's 14 territorial health boards were hit by the "ransomware" attack linked to other IT attacks around the world.

The hack has encrypted information on NHS computers, denying access unless a payment is made.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said work to fix the systems affected had entered a "recovery phase".

Read more here.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks what assessment the SPCB has made of the danger of cyber-attacks on its IT systems.

Jackson Carlaw says the total number of sharp objects retained by the parliament up to the 8th of June in 2017 was 841.

Mr Stewart asks about safety in the pariament.

Mr Carlaw says it is not appropriate to detail specific recommendations pertaining to security.

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart asks the SPCB how many potentially lethal weapons have been seized by security staff in 2017.

Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame says she hears groans all around the chamber about that one.

Labour MSP David Stewart says there are no plans to reduce portion size which is met with cheering and laughter.

SNP MSP John Mason asks what consideration the SPCB has given to reducing the portion size of food served in the Garden Level Restaurant.

SPCB member David Stewart says there are plans to increase electric vehicle charging points from two to four.

Image source, Getty Images

In November we reported the use of electric car charging points across Scotland has more than doubled in the last year.

Chargers were used 26,119 times during August, up from 12,939 in August 2015 and nine times the usage in August 2014, ChargePlace Scotland said.

Electric vehicle drivers appeared to favour rapid charge points, with many standard charge points not used at all.

Recent figures showed there were 3,575 electric vehicles licensed in Scotland, up from 2,050 the previous year.

The evidence suggests that it is rapid chargers that are getting a disproportionate amount of useSteve Gooding, RAC Foundation

There are 870 public and commercial charging points in the ChargePlace Scotland network with a total of 1,772 connectors or sockets between them, up from 694 charge points and 1,373 sockets a year earlier.

Read more here.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden asks the SPCB whether it plans to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points.

SPCB member David Stewart says the roof has been inspected and the pools of water do not affect the waterproof surface.

Mr Scott says water covers a large section on the roof and algae has formed he asks if pumps have been considered to drain the pond on water.

The Tory MSP says this could reduced the costs of cleaning the roof.

Mr Stewart says the issue will be monitored.

Tory MSP John Scott asks the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) what plans it has to address the pooling of water on the roof of the Garden Lobby.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs quiz members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.