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The new Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership has been urged by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to challenge public bodies to do more to promote human rights.

Addressing the Group’s first meeting in Edinburgh, the first minister stressed the need to be ambitious, so that Scotland’s commitment on human rights makes a practical difference to people’s lives.

The group, chaired by Professor Alan Miller, has been established following a commitment in this year’s Programme for Government.

It will operate independently from government, and develop recommendations on how Scotland can continue to promote and support human rights.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd asks the Scottish government how it is encouraging public bodies to do more to promote human rights.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks the Scottish government what arrangements are in place to empower community councils.

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Labour MSP Pauine McNeill raises concerns about Glasgow and says there is a statutory right for homeless people to get accommodation.

Ms McNeill says the minister must collect data on the number of people who are being turned away.

Mr Stewart says: "Local government have responsibility in dealing with folks that present as homeless."

The housing minister says he has been robust in wanting to hear of any councils that are not meeting their responsiblities.

He says he is not averse to looking to see if there is a need for better data collection.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says the action group has made several recommendations, which have been implemented with the backing of £328,000.

The action group is now examining longer term actions to end rough sleeping for good, with recommendations due in the spring, the minister adds.

He commends the action group for its work to date.

Gordon Lindhurst raises the issue of unsuitable accommodation and the need for socially-rented homes.

Mr Stewart says the SNP has built over 70,000 affordable homes, with 50,000 more to be delivered over the course of this parliament.

He says he is "not happy" with the situation in Edinburgh around unsuitable accommodation.

Homelessness has decreased by 38% in recent years, he adds.

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Shelter Scotland , externalhas said an estimated 5,000 people sleep rough on Scotland's streets all year round.

The government has established a Short-term Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, chaired by chief executive of Crisis, external Jon Sparkes and including Shelter.

It also established a £50m Ending Homelessness Together fund and an extra £20m on addiction services from next year.

Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst asks the Scottish government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group.

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Social Security Minister Jeanne Freeman says Ms Beamish is referring to the uprating amendment.

Ms Freeman says the government will honour its commitment later in the year.

She says the increase will be delivered as the very first one and says there will be a 13% increase for carers.

SNP MSP Claudia Beamish asks the government for what reason carers assistance is not included in its proposed uprating amendment to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill.

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Communities, social security and equalities ministers field questions from backbench MSPs during portfolio questions.

Green MSP John Finnie welcomes the minister's comments about pay negotiations.

The former senior policeman says he would have been raging if the union had been bypassed in police negotiations.

He urges the minister to direct the SFRS to adhere to the collective bargaining procedures.

Ms Ewing says she has been encouraged that the FBU is willing to "get round the table" to discuss the future of the service.

She reiterates the SFRS has agreed to undertake formal negotiations.

• There were 7,834 staff employed by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) at 31 March 2017. This figure is 1% lower than in 2016
• There are 700 fewer firefighters than 2013 when the fire service was merged
• The number of fire stations in Scotland on 31 March 2017 was unchanged from 2016 at 356 stations
• Two-thirds of all fire stations (240) are primarily RDS (retained duty system). These are mainly rural stations crewed by on-call, part-time fire officers
• 21% (74 stations) are full-time
• 12% (42 stations) are volunteer crewed

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Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks if the minister was informed of the offer before it went directly to staff.

Mr McArthur also asks about the enhanced roll of fire fighters.

Ms Ewing says she had no knowledge of the letter until she heard about it.

She says the expanded roll is the hub of the discussion between the SFRS and the FBU.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks whether the minister was aware about the scale of reductions in firefighter stations and units.

He also highlights that the FBU were "bypassed" with regards to the pay offer.

Annabelle Ewing says she was concerned that due process around the pay negotiations had not been followed.

She confirms she was aware of the changes to the fire services, adding it is required to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

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A point of conflict between the UK and Scottish government is over VAT for the Scottish police and fire services, after Mr Hammond confirmed they would be eligible for refunds from April 2018.

This brings Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service into line with their counterparts elsewhere in the UK - but tax paid since the creation of the national forces will not be reimbursed.

The two services pay about £35m a year in VAT - bringing the total bill since they were set up four years ago to £140m.

Scottish ministers have repeatedly called on the UK government to end the "glaring disparity" in the way that VAT affects emergency services across the UK, pointing out that territorial police and fire services in England and Wales already get refunds on their VAT bills.

Liam Kerr asks for further information on the proposed role changes, noting youth and social prevention work had been mooted.

Ms Ewing says this is a matter for the SFRS to discuss with the Fire Brigades Union.

She again urges the member to fight for VAT repayments to be backdated.

Mr Kerr says the public will have legitimate concerns this is a way to implement cuts through the backdoor and the chief fire fighter has warned there will be a small reduction in equivalent posts.

Ms Ewing says the decisions about the allocation of resources is an operation matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

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Ms Ewing insists the SFRS have confirmed there will be no compulsary redundancies.

The minister calls for the £50m in VAT to be returned to the SFRS by the UK government.

The Tory MSP claims it was the Scottish Conservatives that won the concession to end VAT on the police and fire service,.

Scotland's fire service is facing criticism for writing directly to staff to offer them a pay rise of up to 20%.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it was "bitterly disappointed" that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had chosen to "bypass" the union.

Firefighters have been offered the pay increase in return for taking on new responsibilities, including terrorism response and emergency medical care.

It is expected that between 200 and 300 jobs could be lost as part of the deal.

Read more here.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing confirms the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service made a pay offer and formal negotiations will now undergo the collective bargaining process.

A formal consultation on the transformation of the service will be released in the next three weeks, she confirms.

The new package will be for the new, expanded role, though the specifics of this are yet to be determined, she says.

Scotland's firefighters are being offered a pay rise of up to 20% if they agree to take on new responsibilities.

The amount officers get will depend on their current level of pay and special allowances.

In a letter sent to rank and file officers, Scotland's fire chief Alasdair Hay outlines proposals to increase basic pay from £29,934 to £35,800 by 2021/22.

The offer is due to be discussed by the Scottish and UK Fire Brigade Union next week.

Read more.