First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will not bring indyref2 legislation to Holyrood as planned
She adds her government will concentrate on the "best" Brexit deal for Scotland
Opposition leaders urge the first minister to take the referendum plan off the table all together
Health Secretary Shona Robison apologises to those families affected by "substandard practices" in maternity services
MSPs pass the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill
Ms Fee moves on to elder abuse and asks why the Bill does not address this.
Mr Matheson says the definition of this offence is between partners and ex-partners.
The justice secretary says there are other legal provisions for issues around elder abuse.
Mr Matheson says this piece of legislation is not the appropriate place to address these issues.
Image source, Rape Crisis ScotlandRape Crisis Scotland
Taken from the Rape Crisis Scotland website:
"I just froze is Rape Crisis Scotland's new public awareness campaign, which aims to challenge and change common misconceptions that there is a right or wrong way for people to react during or after a rape."
Labour MSP Mary Fee says there was very hard hitting TV advert around domestic violence a few years ago and ask if this form of advertising will be considered.
Mr Matheson says a variety of advertising options will be considered and he is aware of the importance of social media now.
He says points to the success of the "I Just Froze" campaign from Rape Crisis Scotland.
SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks about non-harassment orders.
Mr Matheson says courts are required to consider a non-harassment order at the time of sentencing.
Mr Matheson says, for the offence to have taken place it has to be a course of behaviour, with at least two incidents that are considered a course of behaviour.
The justice secretary says there will be a requirement for training of the police.
He says the government will run a publicity campaign highlighting the new offence.
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Mr Matheson says there have been concerns about the threshold in the Bill.
The justice secretary says the government is happy to look at this.
He says courts will interpret the word distress using the dictionary definition which is extreme anxiety or suffering.
This ought to be covered by the offence, says Mr Matheson.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, external, introduced on 17 March 2017, will create a specific offence of "abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner".
And it will also include proposals to ensure psychological abuse, such as coercive and controlling behaviour, can be effectively prosecuted.
The proposals were given the backing in principle by opposition politicians.
Last September Mr Matheson told MSPs of some of the "horrendous" types of behaviour victims can be forced to endure - but which cannot currently be prosecuted by the courts.
Image source, ThinkstockHe said perpetrators "may not necessarily use physical violence against their partner or even overt threats", but they could "behave in a highly-controlling, abusive way over a long period of time".
The Justice Secretary continued: "Examples of what abusers may do to humiliate their partners are horrendous.
"For example, abusers may force them to eat food off the floor, control access to the toilet, repeatedly put them down and tell them they are worthless.
"Abusers also try to control every aspect of their partner's life, by, for example, preventing them from attending work or college, stopping them making contact with family or friends, giving them no or limited access to money, checking or controlling their use of their phone and social media."
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the Bill aims to address a gap in the law in terms of domestic abuse.
Mr Matheson says the committee has heard from some stakeholders who want a separate crime of domestic abuse of a child to be created.
The justice secretary says this is an important issue.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson
He says where abuse is directed against a child there is already criminal law in terms of child cruelty or neglect.
Mr Matheson says the government is aware this does not adequately address psychological abuse and it is under review.
He says the government does not think the way to address this is is to charge a person twice for one crime.
That is why there is a statutory aggravation in the Bill.
Image source, ThinkstockMinisters said the new law would tackle prolonged psychological abuse
Scotland is to become one of the first countries in the world to criminalise psychological abuse, Holyrood heard last September.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson was speaking as MSPs debated the new Domestic Abuse Bill in the Scottish Parliament.
He used the debate to condemn the "pernicious, coercive and controlling behaviour" of perpetrators.
Police Scotland recorded almost 60,000 cases of domestic abuse in 2014-15.
The majority (79%) of cases involved a male perpetrator and a female victim.
The new bill will create a specific offence of "abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner".
Image source, PAThe committee will now take evidence on the Domestic Abuse Bill, external at stage 1 from:
You can view all the submissions to the committee here., external
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson moves that the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 be approved.
MSPs approve the regulations.
Committee convener Margaret Mitchell says the cabinet secretary rejected her amendment about awareness raising.
Ms Mitchell welcomes the fact there has been seven applications for legal aid.
She asks about awareness raising.
Mr Matheson says the interim arrangements were put in place and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing will write to the Law Society.
The justice secretary says stakeholders have been made aware of the interim arrangements and that the regulations were coming.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says legal aid allows a client to be represented where they wish to oppose the release of medical records.
Mr Matheson says seven applications have been made for legal aid in this regard of which five were given legal aid.
He says the commitment to protect individuals was set out in the programme for government.
The Justice Committee will now take evidence on the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 from:
Scotland's police watchdog has criticised "dysfunctional" relationships at the top of the Scottish Police Authority board.
A review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland described a "fundamental weakness" at the board.
It also criticised a decision to hold meetings in private, saying the SPA needed to "genuinely engage".
The report found "dysfunction" between SPA chairman Andrew Flanagan (centre) and chief executive John Foley (right)
SPA chairman Andrew Flanagan is to step down from the role, after a row about transparency at the board.
The HMICS report is the latest in a series of probes into governance at the SPA, with two Holyrood committees issuing critical reports and calling for Mr Flanagan's resignation - moves the report describes as "significant".
The outgoing chairman highlighted that the report contained no evidence to support allegations of secrecy or inappropriate decisions being made.
Labour MSP Mary Fee says the chief inspector's report recommends improving executive structures in the Scottish Police Authority.
Ms Fee says the sub committee will next meet on the 14th of November.
Committee convener Margaret Mitchell suspends the committee briefly.
The committee will now consider a report from the Justice Sub-Committee meeting on 22 June 2017.
Committee convener Margaret Mitchell informs the committee Justice Secretary Michael Matheson is going to be five minutes late.
The Justice Committee will begin taking evidence on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill shortly.