Image source, Getty Images

Glasgow is among the UK's poorest constituencies, according to a new report.

The End Child Poverty Coalition, made up of charities, faith groups and trade unions, said that 45% of children in the city centre were living in poverty.

Glasgow Central appears 12th on a list of 20 constituencies, which is otherwise dominated by communities in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine had the fewest children in poverty at 9.2%.

Read more.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says it is important single parents are not stigmatised, despite it being an indicator for ACEs.

Childhood trauma has its roots in poverty and deprivation, she notes.

She says the recent End Child Poverty Coalition report highlighting in increase in child poverty across the UK is "shameful".

The contribution of local government to child services is emphasised, and the member warns that cuts to these services will have detrimental effects.

Image source, bbc

Read more here., external

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Rona Mackay says "Children with a high ACEs score are not doomed" if early action is taken.

Ms Mackay says teachers and social workers must receive training in ACEs

Those suffering must not be left feeling isolated, she says.

SNP MSP Gail Ross highlights people with ACEs are:

• three times more likely to have lung disease
• 11 times more likely to use drugs
• 14 times more likely to commit suicide
• four times more likely to have had sex by the time they are 15
• 4.5 times for likely to suffer from depression
• and two times more likely to have liver disease

Individuals with six or more ACEs die on average 20 years earlier this those who have none, she adds.

Teachers, social workers, health workers and police need to be properly trained in dealing with and identifying trauma, Ms Ross argues.

She highlights a local case where a teacher was able to increase attainment by offering support to those suffering adverse experiences.

Let's work together across all sectors to make Scotland an ACE-aware nation, and combat neglect and exploitation, she says.

"We need action both from government and society, and the time for that action is now."

NHS Health Scotland says ACE's are, external:

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occurring in childhood including

• domestic violence
• parental abandonment through separation or divorce
• a parent with a mental health condition
• being the victim of abuse (physical, sexual and/or emotional)
• being the victim of neglect (physical and emotional)
• a member of the household being in prison
• growing up in a household in which there are adults experiencing alcohol and drug use problems.

Image source, Getty Images

The term was originally developed in the US for the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study which found that as the number of ACEs increased, so did the risk of experiencing a range of health conditions in adulthood. There have been numerous other studies which have found similar findings including in Wales and England.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Gail Ross says the early years are very important.

Ms Ross says she wants to raise awareness and initiate action on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

The SNP MSP says ACEs are in three categories:

• abuse
• neglect
• household dysfunction

SNP MSP Gail Ross begins her members' debate on adverse childhood experiences.

Here is the motion...

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, Sp

The amended Conservative motion is agreed, again with 59 votes for, 57 against and 6 abstentions.

Image source, SP

The Scottish government is agreed to, with 59 votes for, 57 against and 6 abstentions.

The Scottish Labour amendment therefore falls.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, Scottish parliament

The amended motion is backed with 88 MSPs back it and 34 MSPs voting against.

Image source, SP

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson's amendment is agreed to with 64 MSPs for and 57 against.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says it is rare for so many different stakeholders to have the same concerns about the integration of the BTP into Police Scotland.

Mr Greene says he shares those concerns and says the merger has been criticised by a number of unions.

To say this debate should no be happening is a "disgraceful defence from the centre benches", he says.

Image source, bbc

"It is the government benches should be explaining to us whey a pause is not required."

The Tory MSP says his party respects the devolution of the control of transport policing.

He says if the merger is to go ahead then the sensible thing is to do it in a measured way.

"We ask the Scottish government to take a sensible pause in proceedings."

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the issues around the merger have never been ignored.

The Scottish government will continue to work with unions and other stakeholders to address their concerns, he says.

He argues merging transport police with the police force is not a new idea, pointing to the proposal from former London mayor Boris Johnson to do just that.

BTP have no armed policing or custody facilities in Scotland, Mr Matheson notes, highlighting local police officers already deal with issues on the railway network at local level.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks if the government will publish the full risk register on the merger.

The cabinet secretary says the joint programme board is taking risk management forward.

He concludes by saying the merger will result in a much safer situation that there is now.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson tells his colleagues to "take a deep breath" given the fraught nature of the past two debates.

Responding to the argument about the will of the parliament, he highlights that nothing in the motion seeks to prevent the merger from happening - merely suggests the integration be paused while issues are resolved.

"You have to pause because otherwise you will have a mess."

The devolution of the powers over transport policing had three options, but Scottish ministers only considered one, he states.

He argues the other two options would not have led to such problems.

"We cannot just pursue this merger at any cost, we need to pause to get it right," he concludes.

Lib Dems MSP Liam McArthur says the responses to the Scottish government's first consultation on the merger "ranged from sceptical to hostile".

Merger was one of just three options put forward - and was the one with the highest degree of risk, he says.

Ministers carried out no proper assessment of the risks of costs of abolishing the BTP, he adds.

This latest SNP centralisation is the last thing DCC Livingstone needs on his plate, Mr McArthur argues.

He suggests the only clarity there is, is the government's "pig-headed" attitude in ignoring any concerns.

He offers his support for the Scottish Conservative motion.