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MSPs are examining the gender pay gap in Scotland and how tackling it could boost the economy.

Research suggests women will not earn as much as their male counterparts until 2069, nearly 100 years after the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970.

Holyrood's economy, fair work and jobs committee will examine why women working in Scotland still earn an average of 6.2% less than men.

Ministers said they were committed to removing the barriers faced by women.

The difference between men and women's median hourly earnings for full-time work in Scotland fell from 7.7% in 2015 to 6.2% in 2016.

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Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst says in some areas men suffer from a gender pay gap.

There are some groans in the chamber at that.

Mr Lindhurst calls for a blanced approach.

Ms Sturgeon says: "Currently Ruth Davison is sliding slowly under her desk."

There is laughter at that and Ruth Davidson smiles wryly.

The first minister says the Tories need to take a long hard look at themselves on gender balance.

SNP MSP John Mason asks what action the Scottish government is taking to close the gender pay gap.

The first minister says the government is transforming early learning and childcare to encourage more women back into work.

She say encouraging the paying of the Living Wage will help women.

The first minister says improvements are being made but she knows there is more to do.

She says: "I am a believer in positive action."

Ms Sturgeon says positive action in politics has worked in achieving better gender balance

She points to the 50:50 by 2020 campaign.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley returns to the issue of child poverty.

The first minister says the Scottish government is mitigating welfare cuts and the vast majority of social security powers remain at Westminster.

The prime minister has refused to say if she was lobbied about the DUP deal by Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford pressed Theresa May on the matter during PMQs on Wednesday.

Ahead of the DUP agreement, Mr Mundell told the BBC he could not back a deal which "deliberately sought to subvert the Barnett rules".

Mrs May said she regularly received representations from Mr Mundell about "matters relating to Scotland".

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Tory MSP Jamie Greene says Scotland is in the height of its LGBT campaigning season and asks if the first minister agrees that all children should be able to express themselves.

Ms Sturgeon agrees and says all children should be able to express themselves.

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Scotland's economy is in a "precarious position" with a recession "in the balance", experts have warned.

A report from the Fraser of Allander Institute said Scotland, external seemed to be "stuck in a cycle of weak growth".

The Strathclyde University think-tank said that while growth is forecast to pick up in coming years, it is "likely to continue to lag behind the UK".

Ministers insist that the fundamentals of the Scottish economy remain strong, highlighting Brexit as a key challenge.

Figures are due out at the start of July which will confirm whether or not the Scottish economy has formally gone into recession - defined as two consecutive quarters of falling output.

The Fraser of Allander Institute report said that "on balance it is likely to be a close run thing".

It forecast growth at 1.2% for 2017 as a whole, 1.4% for 2018 and 1.6% for 2019.

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SNP MSP Clare Haughey says the prime minister yesterday failed to say whether Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell made representations for Scotland on additional funding.

Ms Sturgeon says that Mr Mundell "did not lift a finger" for additional funding for Scotland.

"Shame on the secretory of state," she says.

Mr Rennie says the Fraser of Allander Institute reports Scotland may be near recession, there are issues with nursing and farmers - and all this in just seven days.

He asks why the first minister abandoned her reshuffle this week.

Ms Sturgeon says: "Willie Rennie actually lives in a wee world of his own."

One day she might take a bit of "whatever Willie Rennie is on", she says.

The first minister says the Fraser of Allander Institute says the Scottish economy will grow this year and it is Brexit that casts the biggest shadow over the economy.

Scotland's police watchdog has criticised "dysfunctional" relationships at the top of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) 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".

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.

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Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says last week he asked about the latest problems in the police.

He says this week there have been problems with the chief executive of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) board, botched recruitment and problems with forensic services.

Ms Sturgeon accuses Mr Rennie of trivialising the issue.

The first minister says the government will continue to work with the SPA and Police Scotland to address any issues.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie says the report shows the income of families will be hit hardest in the coming years.

Mr Harvie urges the first minister to retain and respect the amendments to the Child Poverty Bill.

This includes a top-up to child benefit, he says.

The first minister says the Child Poverty Bill is bold and hopefully will be passed.

It will create binding targets, she says.

The first minister highlights the new Early Years Grant and she says the door is not closed to any suggestions.

More than a quarter of children in Scotland were living in relative poverty after housing costs in 2015-2016, according to government figures published in March.

It marks what charities described as a "devastating" rise of 4% from the previous year.

Overall figures show 1.05 million people in Scotland were in relative poverty after they had paid housing costs, up 2% from the previous year.

Ministers said making a fairer and more equal Scotland was a "core ambition".

Read more here.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie wishes everyone all the best for the summer, to a little derision from some MSPs.

Mr Harvie says the scale of child poverty will increase over the years according to a Scottish government report.

He says amendments to strengthen the Child Poverty Bill must not be reversed at Stage 3.

Ms Sturgeon joins Mr Harvie in wishing everyone well over the summer.

The fist minister says the concern the government has on the amendment was not the statutory underpinning of the commission, it was that if that is done in the Bill it would restrict the remit of the commission to child poverty alone.