Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says Scotland has lost out in the film and TV sector due to the lack of facilities.

Mr Lochhead asks why there is not a film studio in Scotland in 2017.

Ms Hyslop says there are a number of studio facilities available or in development and Pentland is one of them, but there are still planning issues being addressed.

She says a film studio must be private sector led under EU rules.

Unlike Northern Ireland there has not been a government owned empty building that could have been used, she says.

Ms McAlpine asks for reassurance that Scottish Enterprise will be properly on board.

The culture secretary says she has on behalf of the government secured agreement with SE and HIE.

She says the collective approach is even stronger now.

Deputy convener Lewis Macdonald says the lack of progress on the screen unit has been criticised.

Mr Macdonald says Ms Hyslop said in her letter that the screen unit will go ahead this year and there will be a statement in late autumn.

The Labour MSP says the late autumn probably means Christmas "if we're lucky". He asks for Ms Hyslop's view on this.

Ms Hyslop says the blue print deliverables are due in autumn and she would expect the screen unit to be delivered soon after.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given her response to the EU referendum result, stating that a second Scottish independence poll was now "on the table".

Here is part of her statement relating to EU citizens:

Image source, bbc

"I want to take the opportunity this morning to speak directly to citizens of other EU countries living here in Scotland - you remain welcome here, Scotland is your home and your contribution is valued.

"Unfortunately, of course, yesterday's result in Scotland was not echoed across the whole of the UK.

"The UK wide vote to leave the EU is one that I deeply regret.

"It remains my passionate belief that it is better for all parts of the UK to be members of the European Union.

"But the vote across England and Wales was a rejection of the EU."

Read the full sttement here..

Committee convener Joan McAlpine says Malta's high commissioner to the UK said the Maltese prime minister gave a cast iron guarantee to UK citizens living there the day after the EU referendum.

Ms McAlpine says Theresa May's statement was said to have fallen well short of expectations in Malta.

Ms Hyslop says the first minister's statement the day after the referendum addressed this issue and should not be underestimated.

The external affairs secretary says the UK government tried to use EU citizens as bargaining chips and her statement last week, were a series of miscalculations.

She says UK nationals living in the EU must be taken care off, but the miscalculation by Theresa May was failing to build up trust.

Ms Hyslop says the failure of the UK government do do that is "a political miscalculation and and is "insulting to Eu citizens living here".

Ms Hyslop says tourism is helping the Scottish market across the globe.

The tourism secretary says there has been economic growth in tourism and that expenditure has risen by 9%.

She says there is an increase in overseas visits to Scotland.

Ms Hyslop says there is more can be done to ensure Scotland has a greater share of the international visitor market.

Ms Hyslop says the French are keen to work with Scotland irrespective of what the future holds.

The external affairs secretary says whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations relationships outside the EU will continue to be important.

She says "Scotland is open business" and is the top area outside of London for attracting inward investment.

Ms Hyslop says the government have been engaging with counterparts across Europe.

The external affairs secretary says it is important that the government's European colleagues understand Scotland's position on the vote and that it wants to remain a part of the single market.

She says throughout this engagement there is a great deal of sympathy on what is described as "the predicament Scotland finds itself in."

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Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says Brexit negotiations began last week and she says the government's Scotland's Place in Europe called for retained membership of the single market.

Ms Hyslop says the UK government must engage more with the devolved nations.

She says the working relationships have so far failed to live up to expectations.

Ms Hyslop calls for Scotland to have a seat at the Brexit negotiating table.

She says it is important to protect Scotland's relation ship with EU.

Europe Secretary Fiona Hyslop says she will give an update on a culture strategy for Scotland.

Ms Hyslop says the development of the strategy will invite involvement from artists and will be a national conversation.

Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop will now give evidence to the committee.

Ms Hyslop will be joined by:

• Jonathan Pryce from the Scottish government
• Mike Boyce from the Scottish government

Image source, bbc

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the medical and health agreement between Malta and the UK will remain and be reciprocated.

H.E Norman Hamilton says this agreement was signed before either country's accession to the EU.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton concludes by saying it has been his honour and privilege to give evidence.

H.E Norman Hamilton says he hopes Scotland continues to prosper.

Mr McMillan asks if there are any lessons the EU can learn from the period where the UK was a member,

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says Malta's prime minister, who is a great believer in the EU, was completely against it before he took office.

Mr Hamilton says over time he has become convinced about the benefits of the EU that he now says he would never consider leaving it.

He says "the UK is always important" and "there are great ties which we hope will continue".

Mr Hamilton says he is not sure how negotiations will progress because it appeared that the UK were going down the route of a hard-Brexit but now it looks like it is going to be softer.

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SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks about the EU at 60 years old and asks about success and failure.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says he is happy the 'rEUnion' theme has worked.

Mr Hamilton says the EU has peace and prosperity as the way forward

He says this was helped by Brexit as Theresa May's proposal were far below the expectations of the EU.

Image source, Getty Images

The Maltese archipelago includes the islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla.

It has a history of colonial control spanning centuries.

Located south of the Italian island of Sicily between Europe and North Africa, it has been occupied by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and latterly France and Britain.

Independence from Britain was achieved in 1964, after the Maltese people were awarded the George Cross for defending the island during the Second World War.

Red more here.

SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks what the single market has meant to Malta.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says the single market is one of Malta's top priorities.

Ms Evans asks about Malta's work on gender inequality and LGBTI issues.

Mr Hamilton says Malta has progressed and that previously it was a very Catholic state but it had a referendum on divorce and is working on LGBTIQ rights and same-sex marriage.

He says Malta is becoming more liberal.

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Mr Greer asks about how the EU's confidence is and how it will influence Brexit.

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says he will e-mail Mr Greer when he returns to London with an answer to that good question.

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine asks how long it will take to make progress on the exit deal.

Mr Hamilton says Malta is not involved in the negotiations, but he says it could take between 24 and 29 months.

The high commissioner says: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

He says this is the EU's position.

Image source, AFP

Last October we reported that 2016 was set to be the deadliest for migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, the UN refugee agency says.

Some 3,740 people died until 23 October 2016, a number that was set to rise as the two worst month were yet to come. 2015's death toll was 3,771.

This came despite a sharp decline on the number of people crossing the Mediterranean this year.

The UN believes smugglers are changing their tactics, using riskier routes.

One of every 47 migrants or refugees attempting the voyage between Libya and Italy is dying, said William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

"This is by far the worse we ever have seen in the Mediterranean," he told journalists in Geneva.

"We can say the death rate has increased threefold."

There were 327,800 crossings in 2016 by October, against more than one million in 2015, UN numbers showed.

• Read more here
• Migration to Europe explained in seven charts
• Aboard the Mediterranean's migrant rescue boats
• Read more on the migrant crisis

Malta's High Commissioner to the UK Norman Hamilton says Malta locations were found in Libya to house people until they could find the legal status to leave.

Green MSP Ross Greer says it is very positive to hear what the high commissioner is saying about refugees.