Tory MSP Edward Mountain asks what action the Scottish government is taking to ensure that there is public confidence in the leadership of Police Scotland in the wake of the chief constable stepping aside while allegations against him are investigated.

Ms Sturgeon says she has confidence in the leadership team.

The first minister says the SPA has taken a number of steps to increase transparency and accountability.

She says it would not be appropriate for her to comment on the allegations made against the chief constable.

Ms Sturgeon says it is important that no-one says to the public that there is a vacuum of leadership because there is not.

Image source, Getty Images

The number of children reported to prosecutors for sexual offences has risen by 21% in four years, new figures have revealed.

There was also a 34% rise in the number of children being reported as the perpetrators of sexual offences where the victim was another child.

Sexting - sharing intimate images - is one reason for the increase.

Leading prosecutors said the figures show the need for better education of young people.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Gillian Martin asks what the Scottish government's response is to the number of reported cases involving a child committing a sexual offence against another increasing by a third over the last four years.

Ms Sturgeon says: "These figures are extremely concerning."

The first minister says later this month there will be new analysis published about internet sexual crimes.

Ms Martin asks what MSPs can do to highlight cyber resilience in young people.

Ms Sturgeon praises the Young Scot Digi,Aye, external programme.

Image source, Thinkstock

The amount of money that Scottish farmers owe to banks has reached its highest level since records began.

Outstanding loans to Scottish farms rose to more than £2.3bn by the end of May, up by £113m to the highest level since records began in 1972.

On top of bank loans farms also have an estimated £1.1bn outstanding from hire purchases, family loans and elsewhere.

The Scottish government said the fact banks were still lending to farmers was a "sign of confidence in the sector".

The data reflects the overall UK picture, with figures from the Bank of England showing that by May 2017, the UK agricultural, hunting and forestry sector had an outstanding debt of £18.5bn, with debt levels up 57% since 2010.

Read more here.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell raises the issue of cuts to the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

The first minister says the full convergence funding was not passed on and Scottish farmers were shortchanged to the tune o £160m

The Scottish government will not ask Holyrood to give consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill in its current form.

Brexit minister Mike Russell told MSPs that the legislation posed a threat to the founding principles of devolution.

The Scottish government said there will be no consent motion for MSPs to vote on "at this time", and it will instead seek to amend the bill.

The UK government has insisted that Holyrood will see "significant" new powers devolved after Brexit.

Talks between the two governments over post-Brexit powers for Scotland ended in stalemate in August, although more are expected to be scheduled.

• Brian Taylor on Brexit and Holyrood's consent
• Look back on the ministerial statement on Holyrood Live
• Reality check: could Scotland block the repeal bill?

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says Damian Green, the UK government's first secretary of state, wants framework agreements that will smother devolution after Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon says she agrees with Mr Lochhead and says the EU Withdrawal Bill will centralise powers at Westminster which she says is wrong.

She says this is deeply concerning and says matters that are devolved should not be re-reserved to Westminster.

Hundreds more teacher training places are to be made available at Scottish universities from this month.

Education Secretary John Swinney said the number of places would rise by 371 to a total of 3,861 at the start of the next academic year.

Mr Swinney said the places would be funded by more than £3m of Scottish government cash.

The announcement follows criticism from political opponents over falling standards in Scotland's schools.

Read more here.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie asks the first minister whether she has had any doubts about anything she has done in education in the last ten years.

Mr Rennie says education has got worse in Scotland under her leadership.

He calls for the first minister to establish urgently a new McCrone inquiry to reinvigorate teachers.

Ms Sturgeon says she does not agree as a review would take years while she prefers to take actions now.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says Scottish education has been judged as "just average" and he highlights teacher shortages.

Mr Rennie also highlights the Edinburgh school desperate for Maths teachers.

Ms Sturgeon says the most radical reform of education seen in this parliament is under way and she says Willie Rennie opposes all these actions.

Many people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease are living in care homes for the elderly, a charity has found.

Sue Ryder Care said people with neurological conditions were being let down and needed specialist care.

The charity surveyed Scotland's local councils and found 86% of people with neurological conditions in residential care were in homes for the elderly.

It said one in five of these people were under the age of 65.

The Scottish government said it had started the development of "Scotland's first national action plan on neurological conditions to help drive improvements".

Read more here.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon raises the issue of the Sue Ryder report into neurological conditions.

Ms Lennon highlights a case she has been working with and asks for the first minister to look into her constituent's case.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon: "Of course the health secretary will be happy to look at that."

The first minister pays tribute to Sue Ryder and the report and says the government will take forward work on all five recommendations.

She highlights the government's decision to take forward Frank's Law.

During yesterday's Local Government Committee Denise Christie from the Fire Brigades Union Scotland says fire safety officer numbers have been cut by 24% since 2013.

Ms Christie also says "we have seen a reduction of 700 front-line firefighter posts."

She says this is due to the £58m reduction in the fire service budget and says there have been cuts year after year.

Look back at Holyrood Live's coverage here.

Mr Rowley agrees with the first minister that everyone owes a debt of gratitude to all firefighters.

He says there needs to be more assurances there will not be further job losses.

The Scottish Labour interim leader says cuts are hitting morale in the service.

Ms Sturgeon says the government is protecting those who fight fires and again points to the budget hike.

Image source, Thinkstock

Last year we reported that Scotland had lost almost 1,000 fire service staff since 2013.

Statistics released by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) showed a drop of 956 staff since the creation of the single fire service in 2013.

The losses include 667 whole-time or "retained" firefighters and 289 people employed in support or control room roles.

The service had 8,547 staff in 2013. That fell to 7,591 last year.

There was an 18% drop in the number of volunteers in the service between 2013 and 2016, which saw numbers drop from 417 to 342.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Labour interim leader Alex Rowley says it is the responsibility of government to ensure the Fire and Rescue Service has the resources it needs.

Mr Rowley calls for an assurance that there will be no further job cuts in the fire service.

Ms Sturgeon says the government will continue to work with the fire service and the FBU.

She says after Grenfell it is essential that every aspect of fire safety is continually looked at.