The Justice Committee takes evidence on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill.
MSPs ask ministers topical questions
Delivering for Scotland’s British Sign Language (BSL) Communities: Launch of the BSL National Plan statement
MSPs debate unconventional oil and gas
Image source, bbcThe Scottish government will now give a statement entitled 'Delivering for Scotland’s British Sign Language (BSL) Communities: Launch of the BSL National Plan'.
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh moves decision time to 5.15pm due to the sound problems at Holyrood.
Image source, bbcMs Ballantyne asks how teachers will be trained in this area.
Ms Watt says the review of personal and social education in schools has begun already.
She says Education Scotland is rolling out mental health first aid training for young people to all local authorities.
Image source, bbcMental Health Minister Maureen Watt says the increase shows that stigma around mental health is decreasing.
Ms Watt commends all volunteers who work with Childline.
The minister says the government introduced targets for CAMHS.
She says the consistency of boards meeting their targets is not good enough.
However Ms Watt cites improvements.
Image source, NSPCCNSPCC
According to a report in the Daily Record, external, calls to Childline from young people in Scotland who are suicidal have reached unprecedented levels in the last year.
The NSPCC’s, external round-the-clock helpline delivered 22,456 counselling sessions with children across Britain, the youngest aged 10, many of whom whom were tormented by suicidal thoughts.
In that same time 1095 sessions were held with children from Scotland anguished over thoughts of taking their own life, compared to 934 the year before - an increase of 17 per cent.
Elaine Chalmers, head of helplines for Childline in Scotland, said: “We have never seen figures like these before and they are a blunt wake-up call.
'Just having someone to talk to': Why Childline is so important to me
A record number of children seek help from Childline over suicidal thoughts and feelings. Jamie explains why the charity is so important.
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks the Scottish government what action it is taking in response to reports that Childline has recorded a record number of young people expressing suicidal thoughts in the last year.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Liam Kerr asks what steps the cabinet secretary has taken to see BME police officers progress to senior ranks.
Mr Matheson says it is not acceptable there are no BME officers at a senior level in Police Scotland but says the force recognises it needs to take more action.
Labour MSP Claire Baker calls for more data on the issue to increase transparency and accountability.
The justice secretary says there is an internal review in Police Scotland around hate crime matters which sits with the more widespread Lord Bracadale review into hate crime.
Image source, bbcMr Matheson says the recommendations from CRER are all reasonable.
The justice secretary details funding for support for BME police officers.
He says Police Scotland provides training on diversity and equality.
Mr Matheson says the race equality framework sets out goals for the next 15 years.
The justice secretary says there are a number of goals for Police Scotland within the framework.
He says a positive action team has been established to increase the number of BME recruits joining the police.
Mr Finnie applauds the work that is being done in terms of recruitment in Police Scotland.
The Green MSP asks what the cabinet secretary will do to ensure the improvements called for by CRER take place.
Image source, bbcJustice Secretary Michael Matheson says Police Scotland is taking positive action to support the race equality framework.
Mr Matheson says more than 10% of recruits in 2017 to the police came from minority ethnic backgrounds.
He says Police Scotland acknowledges there are areas for improvement and it is determined to do so.
Mr Finnie says only 1% of police officers come from a BME background.
The former senior policeman asks what is being done to retain BME staff.
Image source, bbcfAccording to a report in the Sunday Herald, external, Police Scotland has been accused of “institutional racism” by a government-funded charity.
The force has been attacked over the recruitment and retention levels of staff from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.
The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER) also criticised the force on the same grounds for the way it responds to racist incidents.
In one case, the CRER said that a person who received a threatening and racist email was asked if it could have been “just a prank” and whether it was “worth the hassle” to pursue the complaint.
Green MSP John Finnie asks the Scottish government what its response is to reports of institutional racism in Police Scotland.
MSPs will now ask ministers topical questions.
Image source, bbcDr Sean Morrissey
Dr Sean Morrissey from the Baha’i Community of Scotland has a second chance to deliver time for reflection, this time with microphones!
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Image source, bbcDr Sean Morrissey from the Baha’i Community of Scotland is carrying on regardless.
Eventually the presiding officer gets a technician in to help and we have a brief suspension.
Looks like the parliament has the same gremlins we had at the start of the day.
There is no sound across parliament tv or BBC output at the moment.