Ms Sturgeon says: " We believe that the time is now right to take a new approach on capital investment.

"I can therefore announce today that we will begin work to establish a Scottish National Investment Bank.

"Benny Higgins, CEO of Tesco Bank has agreed to lead work on developing the Bank's precise remit, governance, operating model and its approach to managing financial risk - vital steps that will see this new bank up and running and providing the patient capital investment that the Scottish economy needs."

Ms Sturgeon says: "To ensure competitive taxes for business, we will quickly take forward the Barclay review of business rates - initial steps are included in this programme and an implementation plan will be published by the end of this year.

"We will also introduce a new Planning Bill, to support the efficient delivery of the development our communities need, including vital infrastructure."

The first minister says the government will establish and fund a new 'Unlocking Ambition Challenge'.

"Each year, we will offer intensive support for up to 40 of the most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs, to help them bring their ideas to market and create jobs.

"Candidates will be chosen and supported by established entrepreneurs who will give their time and commitment."

The first minister says: "We have already increased support for the screen sector, and last month I was delighted to announce that the National Film and Television School is setting up a base in Glasgow.

"I can announce today that we will go further and do what those working in the sector have asked of us - in next year's budget we will provide an additional £10m to bring screen development, production and growth funding to £20m a year."

Ms Sturgeon says: "We will continue to champion clean energy."

The first minister says the UK government's withdrawal of support for key carbon capture and Storage initiatives risks that potential.

She says: "I can announce today that we will provide direct Scottish government funding for the feasibility stage of the proposed Acorn Project at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire.

Moving to the economy the first minister says Scotland must aspire to be the inventor and the manufacturer of the digital, high tech and low-carbon innovations that will shape the future, not just a consumer of them.

Ms Sturgeon says her government will increase investment in business R&D by 70% - generating an estimated £300m of additional R&D spending overall over the next three years.

She goes on to say her ambition is for Edinburgh to become one of the top 10 global fintech centres.

The first minister says: "We will continue to increase the number of modern apprenticeships to meet our objective of 30,000 a year by 2020."

Ms Sturgeon says: "Across all three strands of reform - in our nurseries, in our schools and in our colleges and universities - we are driving change.

"Our clear purpose is to ensure a first-class education for all young people, no matter the disadvantages they face.

" That is my top priority and I recommit to it today."

Ms Sturgeon says: "A new Education Bill will deliver the biggest and most radical change to how our schools are run that we have seen in the lifetime of devolution."

She says it will give headteachers significant new powers, influence and responsibilities, formally establishing them as leaders of learning and teaching.

The first minister says new Regional Improvement Collaboratives will be established to provide support to teachers, including access to teams of attainment experts and subject specialists.

Ms Sturgeon says: "We will guarantee a multi-year package of funding for local authorities to support the recruitment and training of staff and the delivery of new premises.

"And to support private and third sector providers of childcare, we will introduce rates relief for day nurseries."

The first minister says: "This Programme for Government is our plan to seize those opportunities.

She says: "It is a Programme to invest in our future and shape Scotland's destiny."

The first minister says her government has made good progress - "but it is time to take stock of our achievements, refocus our efforts and refresh our agenda".

The first minister begins her statement on the programme for government.

Image source, bbc

Nicola Sturgeon will now outline her programme for government.

The first minister has promised her "most ambitious plan ever", with education expected to be the principal focus.

An Education Governance Bill is one of more than a dozen expected, with action on the economy, housing and the environment also planned.

A deposit return scheme to cut plastic waste is also expected to be announced.

Opposition parties will get a chance to outline their priorities in three days of debate following the speech.

Prior to the summer recess, the first minister indicated that she would use the break to "take stock and refresh" her government, aiming for "creative, imaginative, bold and radical policies".

Policies already trailed include an end to the 1% cap on public sector pay increases, which was the topic of heated debate at Holyrood earlier in the year, and legislation to pardon gay men convicted of same-sex offences before laws against homosexuality were dropped.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Shona Robison says the number of consultants in the specialty of radiology has increased by 41.9% under the SNP.

Image source, Science Photo Library

A national shortage of radiologists is partly to blame for recruitment difficulties at a Highland hospital, a health board has claimed.

Medics have written a letter to NHS Highland raising concerns about vacancies at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The health board said there were too few radiologists both in Scotland and UK-wide.

But officials at Raigmore insisted the service was "safe and effective".

Read more here.

Conservative MSP Edward Mountain asks what action the Scottish government is taking to tackle the reported shortage of NHS radiologists.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Ross Greer raises the issue of the "highly controversial" Teach First project.

Mr Swinney says all of the new routes into teaching have been validated by the General Teaching Council of Scotland.