Tory MSP Miles Briggs says he is delighted that athletes from Scotland's islands will compete with athletes from other islands.

Mr Briggs says the travel costs are a significant and real barrier to athletes competing.

The Tory MSP says it is important for the government to offer support to athletes so that they can participate regardless of their own background.

Mr Scott thanks the minister for trying to make sure that a travel fund for athletes happens.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur intervenes to ask if Mr Scott could expand on the importance of Scottish government support in 2005.

Mr Scott says central government support is essential.

He says sponsorship helps with about 10% of the travelling costs.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott uses his motion to welcome the NatWest Island Games, external taking place in Gotland, Sweden

Mr Scott recognises the contributions and efforts of athletes from the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland to the Island Games.

Image source, IIGA

In addition to Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, 21 further island groups are participating, featuring more than 4,000 athletes across 14 different sports

Mr Scott is concerned that the cost of travel for training and competing is often disproportionately higher for Shetland athletes than those from other parts of Scotland, and often prohibitively so.

He recalls the assurances given by the Scottish government in September 2016 that it would give consideration to the creation of an islands transport fund for athletes.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says Shetland went home from Jersey 2 years ago with the biggest medal haul in its history.

Mr Scott says "as long as we beat Orkney" that's the main thing.

He says it began in 1985 on the Isle of Man.

Mr Scott says Shetland hosted the game in 2005 which brought money to the Island.

"Hosting such games grows sport, that is the real legacy he says."

Image source, BBC/TIMELINE FILMS

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott leads a member's debate marking the Island Games and calling for support for Scotland's athletes.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor gets the congratulations of the presiding officer and the chamber on becoming a brand new dad.

Ms Sturgeon also congratulates the new dad but says he has a long way to go before challenging the number of kids the presiding officer has. (Six at the last count.)

The baby box scheme will be rolled out across Scotland in August, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

All babies born on 15 August or after will receive a box with the essentials to help them get the best start in life.

Expectant mothers can register to receive the box at an existing midwife appointment after 15 June.

Image source, Scottish government

Inspired by Finnish baby boxes, the Scottish version includes around 40 items and the box doubles as a cot.

The roll-out follows pilot projects in Orkney and Clackmannanshire which started on 1 January.

The design for the box was unveiled in March, and features a forest fairytale design including Highland cows, squirrels and the Loch Ness Monster.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks how the national roll-out of the baby box scheme will improve public health and reduce health inequalities.

Ms Sturgeon says the baby box will help to ensure every family has access to essential items.

The registration process will help health visitors connect with parents she says.

Ms Lennon says her party is a fan of the baby box scheme.

But she says more work needs to be done to link the box with other public health schemes like encouraging breast feeding.

The first minister says Labour are supporters of the baby box in any other country but when it is introduced by the SNP they become opponents.

Ms Sturgeon says the ethos of the baby box is not just about essential items it is also about encouraging engagement with anti-natal services.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says the FSB report says business confidence in Scotland is lower than the rest of the UK.

She asks why Scotland lags behind the UK.

Ms Sturgeon says it is inexplicable that Labour voted against the SNP budget proposals that lifted 100,000 businesses out of business rates.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish business confidence has risen for the second consecutive quarter but remains much lower than the UK average, according to a new report.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found pessimism "subsided" north of the border in the last quarter.

However, a majority of Scottish firms still had a negative outlook about their prospects.

In contrast, confidence among UK firms slipped over the same period but remained firmly positive.

FSB said it had been two years since a majority of Scottish firms were confident business conditions were set to improve.

Read more here.

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart asks what action the Scottish government is taking to improve small business confidence.

Ms Sturgeon says figures last week showed the lowest unemployment rate on record and Scotland remains attractive to inward investment.

Mr Lockhart says he welcomes the creation of the South of Scotland enterprise agency as it was the Conservative's idea.

He says Scotland's economy is underperforming the rest of the UK and he says he is not talking down Scotland but highlighting SNP failures.

Ms Sturgeon disagrees and says Scottish business confidence has risen for the second consecutive quarter.

She says the government will continue to take action to support small businesses and the economy.

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald asks what proposals the Scottish government has put to the UK government regarding Article 50 negotiations.

Ms Sturgeon says the Scottish government continues to make a range of proposals to the UK government. She says "we will continue to make those arguments" and this parliament must be properly consulted.

The first minister says the Scottish government must have a seat at the negotiating table.

Image source, Ian Duncan

Scottish Conservative MEP Ian Duncan has been appointed as a Scotland Office minister.

Mr Duncan is to be given a peerage so that he can serve in the government as a member of the House of Lords.

He will work alongside Scottish Secretary David Mundell, with a particular focus on the Brexit talks.

Opposition politicians were critical of the move, as Mr Duncan failed to win election in Perth and North Perthshire but still entered the government.

He lost out to the SNP's Pete Wishart by 21 votes, after a recount.

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine asks what recent discussions have been held between the Scottish government and the Scotland Office regarding opportunities for future intergovernmental cooperation and the new UK ministerial appointments.

The first minister says there is regular contact between the governments to ensure day to day business continues.

Ms McAlpine says the democratically elected Scottish government should join Brexit talks not unelected peers who lost at the ballot box

Ms Sturgeon says it is "absolutely outrageous" a candidate beaten at the ballot box is put into the House of Lords and put in the Scotland Office - a reference to Tory MEP Ian Duncan.

"It is an absolute abomination" and shows contempt for democracy, she says.

The chief constable of British Transport Police warned plans for a merger with Police Scotland could lead to a loss of specialist skills.

Paul Crowther told Holyrood's justice committee of a "real challenge" in replacing officers amid a "significant outflow of expertise".

He told MSPs of the bomb threats, fatalities and near-death incidents officers often have to deal with.

Police Scotland has called the merger plan "complex but not insurmountable".

Read more here.

Image source, BTP

Labour MSP Neil Bibby says the terror level is at severe and next week the Scottish government will merge British Transport Police into Police Scotland.

Mr Bibby says the British Transport Police Federation has called for the bill to be suspended and he asks if police officers will be listened to.

Ms Sturgeon says integration is about providing a single command.

The first minister says it is about making sure there is a unified command structure.