Tory MSP Graham Simpson wonders how the government ensures major road projects promote active travel.

Image source, Liam Mason

More than 200 pupils have been evacuated from a primary school in Fife after a large fire broke out.

At least 30 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze at Cairneyhill Primary School near Dunfermline.

Pupils and staff were all "safe and well" and were moved to a nearby church hall, Fife Council said.

Local residents were asked to keep their windows closed and stay away from Northbank Road while emergency service workers dealt with the blaze.

Read more here.

Education Secretary John Swinney describes the health and safety of pupils as "paramount".

He confirms he wrote to all local authorities in August to seek assurances around school safety.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says one in four Fife schools do not have smoke detectors and not every school have automatic fire alarms.

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He calls for an update to school guidance.

Staff wondering school halls with a bell shouting "fire, fire" is not a modern approach, he argues.

John Swinney asks the member for specific details on Cairneyhill Primary School so he can look into this further.

It is an essential duty on local authorities to ensure they are taking steps to boost safety, he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Public Health Wales has said the lack of working smoke alarms contributed to the deaths of children in five fatal fires.

The review, external looked at blazes in Wales over a five-year period, in which nine youngsters died.

Lead author Jo McCarthy said a working smoke alarm was "one of the most effective ways" of protecting homes.

Wales' three fire services said they had highlighted the importance of smoke alarms "for a number of years".

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks whether all schools should be fitted with fire alarms and smoke detectors.

Education Secretary John Swinney says a new education investment plan will be published.

Development of this plan is underway and he will make an announcement later this year, he confirms.

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Labour MSP Colin Smyth asks why there has not been an announcement on funding already, highlighting previous commitments to do so.

John Swinney says 751 school building projects have been completed since the SNP came to office.

There has been a massive transformation in the school estate, he argues.

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In 2016, the Scottish government announced £230m would be used to build or refurbish 19 schools.

It was the final phase of the £1.8bn Schools for the Future programme.

Ministers said more than 6,500 pupils would benefit from the plans, which should be completed by March 2020.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country's largest union for teachers and lecturers, welcomed the school buildings upgrade plan.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth seeks an update on plans to provide further funding for the Schools for the Future programme.

Tory MSP Maurice Corry notes four in ten water deaths occur during water based activities.

What support will be offered to local clubs or groups, he asks.

The minister says officials will bring together policy leads from across the Scottish government to ensure all safety elements are considered.

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Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing says the Scottish government will continue to work with Water Safety Scotland and others to raise awareness of water safety.

Clare Adamson notes 50 accidental drownings happen in Scotland and a further 29 deaths occur from suicide.

She asks how water safety will be rolled into the mental health strategy.

Ms Ewing says a suicide prevention action plan will be published shortly and the government will engage with Water safety Scotland.

Scotland's Drowning Prevention Strategy, external, published by Water Safety Scotland, aims to reduce accidental drowning deaths by 50% by 2026.

It also seeks to reduce risk among the highest risk populations, groups and communities.

Scotland carries a disproportionate burden of accidental drowning rates, almost double the UK's average at 0.93 people per 100,000 population.

Two in every three drownings in the UK happen at inland waters, such as rivers and lochs.

SNP MSP Clare Adamson raises Water Safety Scotland's Drowning Prevent Strategy.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf recognises the frustrations around the problem and confirms he expects the issue to be dealt with immediately by ScotRail.

A performance review is being taken forward, which will include consideration of stop-skipping, he says.

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Tory MSP Liz Smith raises alleged congestion on the Fife line.

Humza Yousaf says 2018 is an important year for increasing capacity on the railways, with three new Hitachi trains to be delivered.

He agrees to discuss congestion at a meeting with Fife MSPs to take place.

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According to The Scotsman, the number of ScotRail trains skipping stops has increased to as many as 20 a day.

The growth in the number of journeys where trains fail to stop at stations they were scheduled to according to the timetable has led to a rising tide of anger among commuters left waiting at those stations or unable to disembark when their train fails to stop.

In many cases the decision to skip a stop is taken after passengers have begun their journeys.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf tweeted that the situation is “simply not good enough”.

Read The Scotsman article here., external

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks about discussions with ScotRail regarding train punctuality and stop-skipping in Mid Scotland and Fife.

The weekly highlight of first minister's questions is coming up at noon after general questions. Stay tuned for extensive coverage.

After that, SNP MSP Richard Lochhead leads a debate on World Cancer Day 2018.

The day ends with the final stage debate on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill.

The committee has moved to private session to consider a petition on a register of interests for members of Scotland's judiciary.