Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says the Scottish government is committed to embedding Healthier Wealthier Children across all health boards in Scotland.

A scoping exercise found many boards were in a position to do so, with recommendations on those which were not ready to be published in April, the minister confirms.

The Green MSP seeks information on additional resourcing to fund the rollout.

Ms Campbell is unable to outline funding but agrees to keep the member up to date.

Image source, Getty Images

A project to offer financial advice at two GP surgeries in Glasgow led to an £850,000 cash windfall for those who sought advice, a report claimed last September.

Between December 2015 and May 2017 figures showed that 165 people took advantage of the Greater Easterhouse Money Advice Project (Gemap).

They each made a median financial gain of almost £7,000 a year through "income maximisation", said the report.

The scheme has now been rolled out across nine GP surgeries in the area.

Read more here.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks about progress on rolling out the income maximisation project, Healthier Wealthier Children.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says many of the issues in the report have relevance to Scotland, which Health Protection Scotland will consider.

Mr Ruskell says the key finding of the report is that we "simply don't know" the combined effect of various types of pollution.

He calls for a long-term study into this, particularly around the Mossmoran site in Fife.

The minister says work is being carried out on a number of those issues and she offers to meet with the member to discuss specific concerns of his constituents.

Image source, SPL

People are being exposed to a daily cocktail of pollution that may be having a significant impact on their health, England's chief medical officer says.

Prof Dame Sally Davies said the impact of air, light and noise pollution was well recognised in the environment.

But she said its role in terms of health was yet to be fully understood.

Dame Sally added there was enough evidence to suggest action had to be taken.

And,in her annual report, external, she said the NHS could lead the way in cutting pollution levels.

Read more here.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks about analysis of the potential implications for Scotland of the findings in the recent annual report of the Chief Medical Officer for England, which addressed the impact on public health of pollution.

Health Secretary Shona Robison confirms the fund will be delivered from 1 April.

Mr Griffin says he is "delighted" the fund will be rolled out on his daughter's first birthday.

He seeks assurance that parents of babies born before 1 April but still in hospital will receive support.

Ms Robison says the funding will support parents with parking, travel costs and meals, and the scheme will be reviewed after six months.

The cabinet secretary agrees to write to the member regarding babies born before 1 April.

Image source, Photodisk

Parents of premature babies who are being cared for in hospital are to be given extra financial support.

The Scottish government is introducing a new £1.5m family fund to help with additional costs such as travel to the hospital and food and drink.

About 4,400 babies are born prematurely every year in Scotland and the extra cost to parents is over £200 a week.

Health Secretary Shona Robison confirmed the money would be available from 1 April.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin seeks details of the fund the support parents of premature babies in hospitals.

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says early diagnosis plays a big role in successful treatment of various disease, including cancer.

Ms Robison says the cancer strategy will improve services across Scotland and points to cancer funding released last year.

After diagnosis, the treatment pathway is very short to it is diagnostics which is currently being looked at, the health secretary adds.

Health Secretary Shona Robison says NHS Grampian is using £4.9m to address long waits across patient pathways.

£470,000 for cancer funding has been also released to the health board, she adds.

Mr Chapman says core spending for NHS Grampian is among the lowest in Scotland.

Ms Robison suggests the Tory tax plans would have seen £50m taken out of Scotland's budget.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks about support for NHS Grampian in reducing its waiting times.

The deputy presiding officer suspends briefly, with portfolio questions to begin a 2pm.

Health and sport ministers will answer questions from MSPs.

Image source, BBC/SPL

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan confirms Scotland will be represented by Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament at the Commonwealth's young person forum in April.

"We want to empower our young people to become global citizens."

The Scottish government is committed to ending violence against women, the minister says, and he refers members to the Equally Safe strategy, external.

Scotland stands ready to play its part in helping others reach high standards when it comes to human rights, Mr Allan adds.

Image source, CPA

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) , externalis one of the oldest established organisations in the Commonwealth.

Founded in 1911, it is a membership association which brings together members, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, who are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.

The Association is made up of over 180 Branches across the nine regions of the Commonwealth. It offers a vast opportunity for parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and to share good practice.

Image source, SPL/House of Commons

The Rwandan parliament claims the title of having the most female parliamentarians - and it has done for several years. In 2017, 61% of its parliamentarians were female.

South Africa is the Commonwealth nation with the second highest number of women in office, at 42% in 2017.

In comparison, less than a third (32%) of MPs at Westminster are women.

There are two Commonwealth nations that currently have no female members of parliament: Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says global inequality has been increasing in recent years.

She refers to an Oxfam report indicating the wealth gap was increasing.

Oxfam claimed 82% of money generated last year went to the richest 1% of the global population while the poorest half saw no increase at all.

It blamed tax evasion, firms' influence on policy, erosion of workers' rights, and cost cutting for the widening gap.

Image source, CWP

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) , externalwas founded by women delegates at the 1989 plenary CPA conference so women at future conferences could discuss ways to increase female representation in Parliament and work towards the mainstreaming of gender considerations in all CPA activities and programmes.

A CWP Steering Committee, external of 11 Women Members from across the regions of the CPA plan its activities. The currentCWP Chairperson is Hon. Dato' Noraini Ahmad MP, external (Malaysia).

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says it is clear that gender equality is in the interest of all in the Commonwealth in order to progress.

Ending violence against women, women's economic empowerment and women in leadership are the central points of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians' strategy, Ms Mitchell says.

Image source, PA

The Queen praised the "Commonwealth connection" which makes diversity "a cause for celebration" at a service to mark Commonwealth Day this week.

Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister Theresa May were all at the service.

Meghan Markle also attended, her first official event alongside the Queen.

The Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, said: "Through exchanging ideas, and seeing life from other perspectives, we grow in understanding and work more collaboratively towards a common future."

Read more.