SNP MSP David Torrance asks how to bridge the gap between the media and local communities.

Anthony Johnstone says he stayed on a site most of his life half a mile from the Scottish Parilament.

Mr Johnstone says: "The living conditions are a joke."

He says there are rats in the site and he says he has baby sisters.

Image source, bbc

He says: "You tell the warden and they turn around and tell you to get a cat."

Mr Johnstone says it is not that people are not trying and he praises a warden in Duddingston.

He calls for the right training for people.

Image source, bbc

In 2012 the then Equal Opportunities Committee said there had been repeated failures on access to health and social care for the travelling community.

Its report said very little had changed for travellers over the past 15 years.

The Scottish government said there should be no barriers to Gypsy/travellers accessing health care.

The committee's Gypsy/Traveller and Care report , externalfound that the average life expectancy for male members of the travelling community was just 55.

Click here for Sammy Stewart's story.

Davie Donaldson says: "Depression is high among the traveller community.

"We're a missed group when it comes to mental health."

Shamius McPhee explains that it is hard to get medical care.

Roseanne McPhee tells a story that she was registered with a doctor but could not get referred for secondary care because of a letter he has written saying she was "a traveller and politically active."

SNP MSP Gail Ross tells the panel: "Perhaps I was naive before today, but I am horrified and angry at some of the stories I have heard."

Davie Donaldson refers to examples of slights against his community.

Referring to a meeting he was at, he said he was told: "Here's your first lesson David. No-one here cares about the tinks."

Speaking about it, Mr Donaldson says: "I was shamed to death, I was so shocked that a man of high standing could have that view.

"It's an example of what gets spoken of behind closed doors."

He also refers to an internal e-mail about a traveller who was hoping to get planning permission for something.

He says: "A guy in high position replied to all of his colleagues 'don't help him, he's a traveller, help a good honest man'."

Mr Donaldson adds: "I'm still naive enough to hope that it's not at this level but Douglas Ross's comments dashed that."

Image source, bbc

Roseanna McPhee says: "We are an ethnic minority, it is on the statute book."

Ms McPhee says there is denial coming out of central government.

She says it should be ingrained in local plans.

The Scottish Football Association has concluded that a Gypsy comment made by football official and Scottish MP Douglas Ross was not discriminatory.

Ross, a Conservative MP, had apologised after saying he would impose "tougher enforcement against Gypsy Travellers" if he was prime minister for the day.

The MP has welcomed the SFA's decision.

The Travellers Movement said it was "disappointed" that the SFA did not take action over "derogatory and insensitive comments".

Read more here.

Image source, AFP

Ruth Davidson has said Moray's Conservative MP was reflecting local concerns when he called for tougher enforcement against Gypsy Travellers.

Douglas Ross faced criticism for the remark, made in response to a question about what his number one priority would be if he was prime minister.

The Scottish Conservative leader said there had been "significant issues" in Mr Ross' constituency.

However, Mr Ross has since said he regrets his answer.

He said that given the nature of the "quick-fire" online interview, external with Core Politics, he did not have time to provide context when answering the question.

• Tories reinstate suspended councillors
• Tory MP criticised over gypsy remark
• Davidson defends reinstatement of Tory councillors

Read more here.

A Conservative MP has apologised for saying "tougher enforcement against Gypsy travellers" would be his number one priority if he was prime minister.

But Moray representative Douglas Ross insisted that the issue of illegal camps was an important one which people should not shy away from debating.

Mr Ross came under fire from human rights groups and the travelling community over the comments.

He said he did not have time to provide context in a "quick-fire interview".

The MP, who took the seat of Moray from the SNP's depute leader Angus Robertson in June's election, made the comment in a Meet the MPs interview with Core Politics, which was then posted on YouTube, external.

Read more here.

Kerry Musselbrook, project manager, Iriss holding up Gypsy Traveller history in Scotland says: "Something likes this should be used in schools.

"It's easy to be misunderstood."

Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton raises the issue of Conservative MP Douglas Ross, who has been criticised for describing the Gyspy/Traveller community as a "blight".

He says there "would be uproar" had he used this term to describe another minority group.

Shamius McPhee says: "I wouldn't take offence at being called a gypsy but I would take offence at traveller.

"Traveller could be Julia Roberts going to a film premiere in Paris. It's a generic term."

Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks the panel for examples of where: "Broadcasting lets you down".

Anthony Johnstone says: "We are not secretive people.

"We're human beings, we're the same as yourselves.

"We've been portrayed by the media that we're looking for something else.

"All we're trying to do is move on."

He adds: "We're a situation, we're a statistic, we're not human beings.

"There are lots of us that live in houses, that give up our heritage, because we want to be normal.

"You see it happening a lot more."

Image source, bbc

Traveller Davie Donaldson tells the committee: "We need affirmative strong action from the top down."

He says he's not recoemmending it's done, he says it needs to be done.

Roseanna McPhee says she would rather be referred to as a gypsy than a traveller.

Ms McPhee says things have changed because they have got worse.

Post-Brexit - there's lots of people unemployed who would be quite happy to pick berries for £400, she says.

She says it's not a case of its cheaper to bring in eastern migrant workers.

"It's my perception that it's racisim."

"Hopefully Brexit will sort that out."

Image source, Article 12 In Scotland

From the Article 12 in Scotland website, external:

"We believe that governments, professionals, and the wider community all have a role to play in building an environment that respects, values and validates the contributions of young people.

"Our work is underpinned by the principle of free participation: the right to participate as equal citizens at all levels of society without fear or favour and a process that facilitates the participation of all young people on their own terms and according to their own realities, a principle that, if realised, facilitates informed choice, freedom, dignity, respect and demonstrates an acceptance that young people have the same human rights entitlements as adults: that age or ability is no exception, that there is no glass ceiling that deflects those who have not come up through the ranks of established participatory structures or those who do not ‘fit’ the cultural norms of mainstream society: that there are no conditions attached.

"We work to achieve this by supporting some of the most marginalised young people, such as young Gypsy/Travellers, care experienced young people, young people with disabilities and young people experiencing mental ill-health to.

Read more here., external

Image source, bbc

Davie Donaldson from Article 12 in Scotland says: "Very little has changed to be honest."

Mr Donaldson says: "If anything things have got worse in certain areas."

He says his grandfather says nothing has changed.

In terms of hospitability and aggression things have got worse he says.

Mr Donaldson says he is the only traveller he knows at university in Scotland and school kids are having to hide their ethnicity.

Image source, Davie Donaldson

Discrimination against Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland has become the last form of "acceptable racism", a young campaigner claims.

Davie Donaldson, 19, said the public's view of Gypsy/Travellers had "remained stagnant" since the 1980s.

He said travellers faced discrimination in education and were often being prevented from setting up camps.

The Scottish Parliament's equalities committee is marking Human Rights Day 2017 by focusing on the issue.

Read more here.

The Equalities and Human Rights Committee convener Christina McKelvie introduces:

• Davie Donaldson, Article 12 in Scotland
• Charlotte Donaldson
• John McDonald

• Shannon McDonald

Image source, bbc

• Charlotte McKenzie
• Anthony Johnstone
• Shamus McPhee
• Roseanna McPhee
• Kerry Musselbrook, Project Manager, Iriss

Image source, EARTH.NULLSCHOOL.NET

Could the weather be causing the delay to the start of the committee?

Warnings of disruption to road, rail and ferry transport in Scotland have been issued as Storm Caroline strikes and wintry weather is due in its wake.

The Met Office has amber "be prepared" and yellow "be aware" warnings in place, external for Thursday's storm for Scotland.

Yellow warnings have been issued for snow, ice and wind on Friday and Saturday for large parts of the UK.

Scotland's transport minister, Humza Yousaf, said the country faced "challenging conditions".

The Committee will mark Human Rights Day 2017 by taking evidence on human rights and the Gypsy/Traveller Community in Scotland, in round table format, from:-

• Davie Donaldson, Article 12 in Scotland, external
• Charlotte Donaldson
• John McDonald
• Willie McDonald
• Shannon McDonald

• Charlotte McKenzie
• Anthony Johnstone
• Shamus McPhee
• Roseanna McPhee
• Kerry Musselbrook, project manager, Iriss , external

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on 7 December 2017.

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

After general questions, we’ll bring you extensive coverage of first minister’s questions.

Image source, PA/Scottish Parliament

The lunchtime member’s debate focuses on raising awareness of brain tumours.

Image source, bScience Photo Library

The Scottish government will make a ministerial statement on Scotland’s low emission’s zones.

Finally the annual debate on the end year fisheries negotiations takes us to the close.