Art, drama and musicpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Labour MSP James Kelly asks what funding the government provides to encourage access to art, drama and music by young people in South Lanarkshire.
Summary
The Finance and Constitution Committee takes evidence from Brexit Minister Mike Russell on the EU Withdrawal Bill
The Local Government Committee will take evidence from young people who have experienced homelessness
Justice and the law officers ministers and culture tourism and external affairs ministers take portfolio questions
Scottish Labour lead a debate on finance calling for income tax increases to allow more investment in public services
SNP MSP Linda Fabiani leads this evening's member's debate on fighting for tax jobs in HMRC centres
Art, drama and musicpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
What is the Sphinx? It's Scotland's oldest snow patchpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Media caption, Scotland's oldest snow patch set to melt away
Scotland's longest lasting patch of snow could melt away by the weekend.
Iain Cameron, who seeks out and records snow that survives on Scotland's highest mountains, believes the patch known as the Sphinx has days left.
The patch at Garbh Choire Mor on Braeriach in the Cairngorms is believed to have disappeared only six times previously in the last 300 years.
According to records, the snow previously melted in 1933, 1953, 1959, 1996, 2003 and 2006.
Dr Adam Watson, a biologist dubbed Mr Cairngorms because of his years studying the mountains, has written of the snow at Garbh Choire Mor.
Call for support for winter sports industrypublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop details the support given to the winter tourism industry.
The Sphinx is about to melt away from the Highlands he says.
He calls for support for the winter sports industry if there is less snow.
Ms Hyslop says this as a concern and diversity must be looked at.
Winter tourismpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett asks what efforts the government is making to support the winter tourism industry.
Kevin Bell Repatriation Trustpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
International Development Minister Alasdair Allan says this is a reserved policy area.
Mr Allan says following repatriation however several organisations can provide support for breaved individuals.
Mr Doris asks the minister to meet with himself, Julie Love and Colin Bell to discuss the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Support to repatriate the bodies of people who have died abroadpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
SNP MSP Bob Doris asks how the government can support people to repatriate the bodies of family members who have died abroad.
Holyrood Palace costs are reimbursed to Scotlandpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says there is a long standing memorandum of understanding for the maintenance of the the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Mr Wightman says some £890,000 was used to reimburse staff employed by the royal household.
He asks why Scottish taxpayers should be footing this bill.
Ms Hyslop says the income generated by Holyrood Palace is provided back to the UK Treasury and the costs are reimbursed to Scotland.
That may not be as transparent as Mr Wightman may like.
Palace of Holyroodhousepublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Green MSP Andy Wightman asks what the government's position is on whether the financial arrangements governing the management and maintenance of the Palace of Holyroodhouse are fair and equitable in terms of public funding.
Culture, tourism and external affairspublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
We now move to the culture, tourism and external affairs brief.
Schoolgirl admits acid attack at Haddington schoolpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
A schoolgirl has admitted causing permanent injuries to a love rival following an acid attack at an East Lothian high school.
The 17-year-old pupil poured a solution containing sulphuric acid into a viola case owned by a girl who had started seeing her former boyfriend.
The instrument was destroyed and the acid poured over the girl's legs when she opened the box.
The incident happened at a school in Haddington on 29 September 2016.
Sentence was deferred until 7 August.
Labour MSP raises case where schoolgirl was attackedpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Ms Grey refers to a teenage schoolgirl that was attacked at school and said the sale of the corrosive substance used in that attack is not subject to control at sale.
Ms Ewing says the government are continuing to look into this.
Stronger controls on the sale of corrosive chemicalspublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Labour MSP Iain Gray asks what action the government will take on sentencing and stronger controls on the sale of corrosive chemicals to tackle the use of acid as a weapon.
Emergency workers legislation review underwaypublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Ms Ewing says Police Scotland has been involved in meetings with partners including the BTP about anti-social behaviour at this station.
Ms Baillie asks if the minister will commit to review transport workers legislation to ensure railway staff are protected by it.
Ms Ewing says emergency workers legislation is being reviewed to consider extending this .
Background: Rail violence prompts urgent action callpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Image source, NIGEL THOMPSON/GEOGRAPHImage caption, Police said they had stepped up patrols along the line in recent weeks
Train drivers are calling on Scotland's transport minister to intervene over concern about anti-social behaviour on some services out of Glasgow.
The ASLEF union said Humza Yousaf had to act to protect passengers and staff on services to Helensburgh and Balloch.
British Transport Police said it had stepped up patrols along the route.
Mr Yousaf said he had committed his support to a campaign which aims to protect transport workers from acts of violence.
ASLEF said its members were ready to refuse to work on the line because of the violence and anti-social behaviour "plaguing" passengers and staff.
Antisocial behaviour at Helensburgh Central train stationpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks what action is being taken by the police to deal with antisocial behaviour at Helensburgh Central train station.
Minister says community payback orders are at the heart of the government's approachpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Image source, bbcImage caption, Mr Matheson
Mr Matheson says community payback orders are at the heart of the government's approach.
Ms Adamson asks if Mr Matheson agrees that looking for appropriate cases is not the same as a soft touch.
Mr Matheson says we must not get caught up on what is tough and what is not.
He says the government are determined to use an evidence based approach.
Background: Lord Advocate wants 'significant reform' of Scots justice systempublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Image caption, The Lord Advocate said there may be "a need to do criminal justice in really quite a different way"
In January Scotland's Lord Advocate has said "significant reform" is ongoing after MSPs raised "serious concerns" about the country's justice system.
Holyrood's justice committee has been holding an inquiry into the role and funding of the Crown Office.
Members put issues raised by previous witnesses about resources and victim support to James Wolffe QC.
He said ongoing reviews suggested a "need to do criminal justice in really quite a different way"
Community payback and direct reparationpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
SNP MSP Clare Adamson asks, in light of the recent comments by the Lord Advocate, what role community payback and direct reparation with victims of crime will play in its future plans for the justice system.
Minister says government opposed to use of mosquito devicespublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Image source, bbcImage caption, Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing
Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing says the government is opposed to these devices.
Ms Ewing says the government notes the UN Convention's opposition to this.
Ms Ewing says the government has written to local authorities and COSLA concerning its opposition.
The community safety minister says the government do not know how widespread the use of these devices is and will need to check that before legislating on it.
Background: Anger over Hamilton station 'mosquito' devicepublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 20 September 2017
Image source, GEOGRAPH/THOMAS NUGENTScotland's children's commissioner has condemned ScotRail for installing a sound device to deter young people from gathering at a train station in South Lanarkshire.
Bruce Adamson said the device at Hamilton Central Station was a breach of children's rights.
ScotRail said it had taken the step as a result of anti-social behaviour.
It follows protests by the RMT union, who said staff were in fear after a "surge in violence" at the station.
The electronic device, often referred to as a "mosquito", is used to deter loitering by emitting sound at high frequencies that is mostly heard by younger people.