Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says today the building stone industry has greatly diminished, with few quarries and its future is threatened by the increasing use of imported stone.

The combined turnover of the Scottish stone industry is £10m and it could well be better.

Tory MSP Bill Bowman says slowing demand for Scottish stone has led to reduced awareness of the sector.

This has caused a fall in jobs, he states.

The Scottish parliament itself is constructed using Scottish stone from several regions, reveals Mr Bowman.

It looks like our punnits is infections as he concludes saying "we must carve out a boulder future for the Scottish stone industry".

Image source, bbc

Mr Dey has really left no stone unturned in finding ways to bring this debate to life, being boulder than most and making a concrete case that we should not take the Scottish Stone Group for granited.

This speech was clearly not cobbled together, he must have been petrified but rocked it in the end.

With apologies to all.

Image source, Scottish Stone Group

From the Scottish Stone Group website, external...

"The Scottish Stone Group is committed to promoting the economic, social and environmental benefits of using indigenous natural stone.

"Scotland has more stone buildings per head than any country in the world.

"Natural stone structures are part of Scotland’s national identity and demand for this signature building material is starting to grow again, not only for new buildings but also streetscaping and restoration work.

"However, 85% of current stone is now imported into this country at a cost of £40m per annum to the Scottish economy. The Scottish Stone Group aims to reverse that trend by encouraging the use of locally sourced and processed stone."

SNP MSP Graeme Dey says the Scottish stone sector is an important industry with growth potential.

Around 85% of stone used in Scotland is imported, he states, which means the Scottish sector is missing out on economic benefits.

He also highlights the environmental benefits of using Scottish stone because it is locally sourced and requires minimal processing.

There is also a positive impact on the supply chain, the member says.

Here is the motion from SNP MSP Graeme Dey, highlighting the create of the Scottish Stone Group.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, Scottish Stone Group

SNP MSP Graeme Dey will now lead a debate highlighting the establishment of the Scottish Stone Group.

Ms Sturgeon says she was appalled to hear of abuses in the third sector.

The first minister says OSCAR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) is looking into this.

Ms Lennon says Scotland's charity sector plays an important role, but reports about sexual misconduct are worrying.

She says the true scale of sexual misconduct could be higher.

The government will continue to discuss with OSCAR and continue to listen to their views for any changes necessary, says the first minister.

Ms Sturgeon praises the many volunteers and charities for their work generally.

She says underlying all of this is not one sector, rather it is a culture where some men abuse positions of power that they hold.

This culture must be challenged and changed for good, says the first minister.

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani says the appalling behaviour of the few should not affect crucial aid and charity and the first minister concurs.

Image source, SCIAF

Scotland's charity regulator said there had been 15 allegations of sexual misconduct within the sector in the past two years.

The watchdog's spokeswoman Judith Turbyne said all the allegations, known as "notifiable events", involved sexual misconduct.

On the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Turbyne said a "small number" of allegations had been made.

She said the details had been passed to Police Scotland.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks for the government's response to reports that the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is aware of multiple allegations of abusive behaviour and misconduct in the third sector.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks for the Scottish government's response to the recent Audit Scotland report, which states that its childcare plans face "significant challenges".

The first minister again says her government will consider the recommendations in the Audit Scotland report.

Ms Ballantyne says Audit Scotland estimate an additional 12,000 staff are required.

Ms Sturgeon again points to the recruitment strategy that is in place.

SNP MSP GIllian Martin asks about the risk of Brexit to farmers.

The first minister reiterates that remaining in the EU, or at least the single market and customs union, would be in the interest of farmers across the UK.

She describes it as "shameful" that many Conservative MPs are backing a hard Brexit.