Summary

  • MSPs take evidence from Gypsy/Travellers to mark Human Rights Day 2017

  • Scottish government ministers are quizzed during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is questioned by opposition party leaders and backbench MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Tory MSP Alexander Stewart highlights brain tumour awareness in Scotland during his member's debate

  • The government delivers a ministerial statement entitled 'Improving Scotland's Air Quality - Putting in Place Scotland's Low Emission Zones

  • MSPs debate Scotland's sea fisheries and end year negotiations

  1. Background: Mark Richardsonpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart tells the story of Mark Richardson, whose undiagnosed tragic illness & untimely death helped spark their subsequent research into Brain Tumour awareness in Scotland.

    You can read it here at the Dunfermline Press or below, external:

    Dunfermline PressImage source, Dunfermline Press
  2. Tory MSP Alexander Stewart leads a debate on brain tumour awarenesspublished at 12:53 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    MotionImage source, Scotttish Parliament
  3. Brain Tumour Awareness in Scotlandpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart will now raise Brain Tumour Awareness in Scotland in the chamber.

    MotionImage source, Scottish parliament
  4. Postpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

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  5. That brings to an end first minister's questionspublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    First minister's questionsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    First minister's questions

    That brings to an end first minister's questions.

  6. Background: Teaching union condemns Scottish schools shake-uppublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    teacherImage source, bbc

    Scotland's largest teachers' union has strongly condemned government plans for a big shake-up in how schools are run.

    The EIS said there was no evidence proposed changes to funding and governance arrangements would help children do better.

    But the union is welcoming moves to make it easier to share good practice across different council areas.

    The Scottish government has sought feedback on the changes and will publish a response "in due course".

  7. Sturgeon says new body will take on the role of GTCS independent of governmentpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    tavish scottImage source, bbc

    Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks for the Scottish government's response to the EIS's reported opposition to plans to disband the independent General Teaching Council for Scotland.

    Ms Sturgeon says a new body will take on the role of the GTCS and will be independent of government.

    Mr Scott asks why no risk assessments of these proposals have been carried out.

    The first minister says the government is consulting on this and the responses will be looked at.

    She says there will be a range of different views on this and will be taken into account.

  8. Background: Wales' organ donation opt-out law has not increased donorspublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Human organ in a bagImage source, Getty Images

    Wales' opt-out system for organ donation has not increased the number of donors in the two years since it was introduced, a study has confirmed.

    Adults in Wales are presumed to have consented to organ donation unless they have opted out.

    The data was published in a Welsh Government report, external about the impact of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act.

    Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said it was "too early to know the true impact".

    Read more here

  9. Soft-opt outpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    nicola sturgeonImage source, bbc

    Ms Sturgeon says it is important to put in the infrastructure for donation and she says it is time to consider the move to the soft-opt out option, which the forthcoming legislation will do.

  10. Background: Opt-out organ donation system in Scotland plannedpublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Media caption,

    Organ donation 'opt-out' to be introduced in Scotland

    In June the Scottish government announced it was to bring forward legislation to provide an opt-out system for organ donation.

    Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said there would be legislation for a "soft opt-out" system, aimed at increasing donation rates.

    A government consultation found 82% of respondents in favour of the move.

    MSPs considered such a system during the previous parliamentary term, but ultimately rejected it due to concerns over some specific details of the plan.

    At present, anyone who wants to donate organs after death must "opt in" to the systemImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    At present, anyone who wants to donate organs after death must "opt in" to the system

  11. Availabiity of organs for donation and transplantpublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    jamie greeneImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks the first minister what action the Scottish government is taking to improve the availability of organs viable for donation and transplant.

    The first minister say the government is continuing to work with NHS staff on the issue, and that it will bring forward legislation for a soft opt out for organ and tissue donation.

    Mr Greene says he was given the gift of a grandmother thanks to a kidney transplant.

    He points to a Welsh government report which says the number of donors has not increased.

    The first minister says the Welsh situation is mixed and will be looked at.

  12. Postpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

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  13. Holyrood calls for UK-wide effort to tackle the online sale of knivespublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Media caption,

    Holyrood seeks UK push to tackle knife crime

    In January the Scottish government said it wants a UK-wide effort to tackle the online sale of knives in an effort to reduce knife crime.

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney told MSPs use of the internet to purchase such items meant a UK-wide effort would be more effective in tackling the issue.

    Mr Swinney made the statement as he presented Holyrood's response to a report into the killing of Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne who was stabbed by a fellow pupil at Cults Academy.

    The report, by child protection expert Andrew Lowe, also called for new legislation to strengthen teachers' search powers - a move which the government rejected.

  14. No Knives Better Livespublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    kenny gibsonImage source, bbc

    SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson asks how the Scottish government is tackling knife crime.

    Ms Sturgeon says £14m has been invested in violence prevention and praises the No Knives Better Lives , externalcampaign.

    The first minister says the decline in knife crime in Scotland has been dramatic and she also praises the Violence Reduction Unit and police frontline staff.

  15. Postpublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

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  16. Background: Scottish A&E bucks trend on long waitspublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Hospital signImage source, Getty Images

    Fewer patients in Scotland are waiting longer than four hours in A&E than they did in 2012/3 in contrast to England where the number has more than doubled, according to new research by the BBC.

    It found England had a 155% rise in long waits between 2012/3 and this year, up to 2.5 million a year.

    Hospitals in Wales and Northern Ireland also saw an increase over the period.

    In Scotland, the number of patients waiting more than four hours fell by 9% to just over 100,000.

    Read more here

  17. Falling waiting times in A&Epublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    SNP MSP Ivan McKee raises falling waiting times in Scotland's A&E departments.

    Ms Sturgeon says this is to the credit of the medical staff in A&E's in Scotland and says the government will continue to support them with record investment.

  18. Background: Jerusalem is Israel's capital, says Donald Trumppublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    Media caption,

    What Trump's Jerusalem decision means for peace

    President Donald Trump has announced that the US now recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital, overturning decades of official US policy.

    Mr Trump described the move as "a long overdue step" to advance the Middle East peace process.

    The fate of the ancient city is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

    Israel called Mr Trump's move "historic" but there has been sharp international criticism.

    Read more here

  19. First minister says Trump's decision was 'reckless and wrong'published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2017

    anas sarwarImage source, bbc

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar raises Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

    Trump is a threat to a just settlement, says Mr Sarwar, and he calls for the first minister to condemn the move.

    Ms Sturgeon says: "I have already condemned Donald Trump's decision on behalf of the Scottish government."

    The first minister says Mr Trump's decision was "reckless and wrong".