Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says his party said the merger was "unsafe, unneccesary and unwanted".

Mr Kerr says this is an "embarrassing, humiliating U-turn".

He calls on the justice secretary to "call the whole thing off".

The justice secretary hits back accusing the Tory MSP of hypocrisy and cites pledges in the Scottish Conservatie manifeston.

He again says a single command structure is the most effective as the Tories said in their manifesto.

A report from Scotland's Police watchdog said no authoritative business case was made for the merger of British Transport Police and Police Scotland.

The decision was made by ministers, meaning the benefits, disadvantages and costs were not explained.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary's overview of BTP says a detailed study of the risks should be undertaken.

The functions of BTP were due to be absorbed into the national force on 1 April 2019 before the delay.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, Derek Penman, suggested this study be carried out by the Joint Programme Board (JPB) which has been set up to manage the transfer.

He said the JPB also needs to look at the costs of the merger as there is uncertainty among stakeholders as to where the responsibility for them lies.

Read more here.

SNP MSP John Mason says the public do not understand why the two police forces are separate.

The justice secretary says that an integrated structure will deliver more for the travelling public.

Image source, Getty Images

The delay follows warnings that a full merger of Police Scotland with the British Transport Police would not be possible by the April 2019 deadline.

Ch Supt John McBride told British Transport Police (BTP) staff that government officials will be informed at a meeting on 30 January.

He said Police Scotland had put forward an alternative option of "operational integration".

It would see the force taking over railway policing and all BTP staff.

But it would rely on BTP for support in areas such as technology, funding and data access.

In a statement posted on the BTP intranet, he said: "BTP has planned for full integration. The alternative proposal presents real challenges to deliver the outcomes of the project."

Read more here.

Michael Matheson criticises the idea that the proposal was forced through, noting the Lib Dems backed the Bill at stage 1 before opposing it later.

He says Mr McArthur's use of a quote by DCC Livingstone is misleading, stating the deputy chief constable was highlighting that Police Scotland would not be prepared for the April 2019 integration date.

This is why the Scottish government has accepted the proposal for a "replanning exercise" to establish a new date, the cabinet secretary explains.

Image source, bbc

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the government is committed to delivering the benefits of a single command structure through the merger, but public safety is paramount.

Mr Matheson says operational aspects will not be ready for April 2019 as planned.

Mr McArthur says SNP ministers forced through the merger despite concerns and warnings.

The Lib Dem MSP says DCC Livingstone has warned public safety would be compromised by sticking to the original timetable.

Image source, British Transport Police

The controversial merger of British Transport Police with Police Scotland will be be delayed, the Scottish government announced yesterday.

.Justice Secretary Michael Matheson described the longer timetable beyond April 2019 as "disappointing".

But he said it would allow more time to engage with the Transport Police Federation on issues like pay and conditions.

The Conservatives had already called for the move to be be put on hold.

Scottish Labour described the delay as "a welcome U-turn at the eleventh hour by the SNP".

Police Scotland's Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingtsone said unresolved issues in the integration plan meant it could not be be achieved by the April 2019 date "without compromising public safety".

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks about reports that the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland and Police Scotland is to be delayed.

Image source, bbc/Andrew Cowan/PA

The main event is the Stage 3 debate on the Budget Bill, which begins at 2.40pm, ahead of the all important vote at 5pm.

That's after an urgent question on the BTP/Police Scotland merger and portfolio questions, and ahead of a member's debate looking at children's services at St John's Hospital in Livingston.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Gillian Martin says as a college lecturer this is an issue she has spent a lot of her life complaining around.

Prof Scott says if someone has an HND they should go into the third year of a degree programme.

He says we should start from the other end saying this should be possible, not that this should be difficult.

That concludes this evidence session on fair access to higher education.

Students from the 20% most deprived areas are fall more likely to attend higher education courses in colleges than degree courses at universites.

Even so, there are still significant variations between institutions.

Image source, SFC

Green MSP Ross Greer says unless a holistic approach is taken the Scottish government targets will not be met.

The current targets are:

• by 2021 at least 16 per cent of new entrants to full-time first degree courses at universities should come from the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland (as measured by SIMD) and at least 10 per cent in each individual university
• by 2026 applicants from SIMD20 areas should make up 18 per cent of new entrants to full-time first degree courses at universities
• by 2030 20 per cent of new entrants to HE at universities and colleges should come from SIMD20 areas.

Image source, bbc

Prof Scott says some outreach projects from universities try to reach primary school pupils and their parents and that has proved quite eff

"It is important to look holistically across all education."

Image source, SPL

Scottish universities are planning big changes to their admissions system to help increase the number of students from disadvantaged areas.

The plans will mean less attention being paid to an applicant's exam results.

Instead, universities will look more at the applicant's skills, experience or potential.

The Scottish government said the plan may not go far enough to reach targets for change.

Under the plan, applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds may not need exam results to be as good as those achieved by others - but exam results alone will not guarantee them a place unless they have been in care.

The Scottish government wants 20% of students at all Scottish universities to come from Scotland's most disadvantaged areas by 2030.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Mary Fee raises the issue of students with disabilities and those who are BSL.

Ms Fee says a young person going through the application process faces a disconnect with the funding and support they need to go to university.

She asks if there will be recommendations in regards to that.

Prof Scott says in his first report the current issues weret the focus, but he says he flagged up the need to look at other forms of disadvantage like disability.

He cites the case of people with dyslexia and says that institutions are now. The commissioner says each form of disability needs to be looked at.

The University of the West of Scotland is the best performing higher education institution in terms of accept degree entrants from the most deprived areas in Scotland.

The ancient universities tend to do poorly in this regard - with Aberdeen, St Andrews and Edinburgh accepting the fewest students from poorer backgrounds.

Image source, SFC

Image source, bbc

Prof Scott says in America if someone drops out of university they get credit for what they achieved whereas that does not happen in the UK.

The fair access commissioner goes on to say univeristy and college admissions is are complex processes.

There will never be an industrialised process as the individual has to come into it, he says.

The commissioner calls for greater transparency.

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland education correspondent

The proposal for a "guaranteed income" for students would bring clarity and simplicity to the system.

While all Scottish students receive free tuition, arrangements for help towards living costs are more complicated.

For instance a university student from a family with an income of less than £19,000 is entitled to a bursary of £1,875 and a loan of £5,750 - a total of £7,625.

Someone from a family with an income of more than £34,000 gets no bursary while the loan they are entitled to is just £4,750.

Image source, Getty Images

The argument is that a guaranteed income would be a real help to students - it could help some avoid term-time jobs, credit card debts or loans from commercial lenders.

It could also end any confusion over just how much support might be available to students. There are examples of students who did not apply for student loans but built up commercial debts.

Read more analysis from Jamie McIvor here.