Resuming now with general questions...........published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Summary
The Public Petitions Committee discusses support for families with multiple births
Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition party leaders and backbench MSPs during first minister's questions
The Scottish government gives a statement updating parliament on the South of Scotland Partnership.
MSPs debate the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill for the final time before voting on whether to pass it at decision time
Resuming now with general questions...........published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Postpublished at 11:38 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
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End of twitter postComing up.............extensive coverage of FMQspublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, bbc/Scottish Parliament/PACommittee to invite Scottish government to give evidence on glue trapspublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
The final petition to be considered is on the sale and use of glue traps, external.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay says "personally, I think they should be banned" but suggests taking evidence from the Scottish government.
The committee agrees and moves into private session.
Reform the Scottish electoral system petition closedpublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, ThinkstockMSPs consider the petition calling for reform of the Scottish electoral system to make it democratic and accountable, external.
The committee agrees to close it since the Scottish government is consulting on electoral reform, external.
Improving literacy standards through reading instruction petitionpublished at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, AlamyMSPs now consider a petition on improving literacy standards in schools through research-informed reading instruction, external.
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne says that while the petitioner has some good points, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improve literacy.
Convener Johann Lamont says she would be interested in what teachers as a whole do around literacy and whether it is contextualised in teacher education.
Ms Ballantyne says it is important to get a balance teaching children to read and teaching children comprehension, with phonics more focused on the former.
The committee agreed to write to teacher education institutions about training.
Drinking water supplies in Scotland petition referred to Environment Committeepublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, Getty imagesThe committee now considers the petition pertaining to drinking water supplies in Scotland, external.
Ms Lamont says the petition calls for a review of the regulator.
Tory MSP Brian Whittle says his constituents have had letters through the door saying chlorination is happening without explanation or consulation.
Mr Whittle says the consumer has not been kept on board by Scottish Water and the committee agrees to refer the petition to the Environment Committee.
Image source, bbcChild Welfare Hearings petition kept openpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image caption, Committee convener Johann Lamont
Turning to the Child Welfare Hearings, external petition, Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne expresses concern about the practicalities of having specialist courts in terms of people travelling to them.
Committee convener Johann Lamont admits she found the arguments against written notes "unsatisfactory" which led to young people having to tell a story repeatedly.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay suggests this supports more extensive use of technology.
The committee agrees to ask the Scottish government for its view on specialist courts and an update on the consultation.
Parking legislation petitionpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, bbcThe committee agrees to defer consideration of the Parking Legislation, external petition.
Committee to write report on armed force school visitspublished at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
The ensuring greater scrutiny, guidance and consultation on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland, external petition is next.
Tory MSP Brian Whittle suggests closing the petition, saying he is satisfied that the armed forces take appropriate measures.
SNP MSP Angus MacDonald suggests the committee write a report on the petition given the extensive amount of evidence received
This is backed by SNP MSP Rona Mackay, who adds that she does not feel the questions from the petition have yet been answered.
Image source, PATory MSP and former soldier Edward Mountain says armed forces do not going into schools without being asked and expresses concern than this petition is suggesting they only go into schools to recruit.
The services are "incredibly aware" about the impact of their visits to schools, he argues.
We don't ask other organisations such as the police to make the commitments that are made by the armed forces on school visits and to ask them to go further may damage people's view of the forces, warns Mr Mountain.
He backs his party colleague's suggestion to close it.
After extensive discussion, the committee agrees not to close the petition and write a report highlighting the various sides of the argument.
In Care Survivors Service Scotlandpublished at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesMSPs now move to the petition on In Care Survivors Service Scotland, external.
SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says funding issues have been addressed and the petition has been a success.
Ms Ballantyne calls for further scrutiny and also for the petitioner's view and the committee agrees to contact the cross party group.
Residential care provision for the severely learning disabled petition kept openpublished at 10:19 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, SPLMoving to the residential care provision for the severely learning disabled, external petition...
Tory MSP Brian Whittle suggests getting the petitioner's response to the Scottish government's submission.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay suggests the issues of the petition have only been "partially addressed".
The committee agrees to continue with the petition and seek additional information from the petitioner and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory.
Pernicious Anaemia-Vitamin B12 Deficiency petition closedpublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, bbcFirst up is a petition on Updating of Pernicious Anaemia-Vitamin B12 Deficiency understanding & treatment, external.
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne says: "I think, to a great extent, we have probably gone as far as we can with this one."
Ms Lamont says the fact the petitoner was pleased with the recent meeting with the haematology short life working group is very positive.
The peition is closed.
Moving on to continued petitionspublished at 10:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
The committee will now consider the following petitions:
- Updating of Pernicious Anaemia-Vitamin B12 Deficiency understanding & treatment, external
- Residential care provision for the severely learning disabled, external
- In Care Survivors Service Scotland, external
- Ensuring greater scrutiny, guidance and consultation on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland, external
- Parking Legislation, external
Image source, bbcCommittee agrees to continue multiple births petition and seek viewspublished at 10:09 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks about the increase of childcare provision to 600 hours.
Ms Peck says parents are really grateful for the expansion, but she stresses the pressures from 0-3 years.
Committee convener Johannn Lamont asks for views on how to take the petition forward.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Brian Whittle asks: "Can I just make a comment?"
"As long as its not rude," jokes Ms Lamont.
Mr Whittle says the committee should write to the Scottish government, Ms Lamont agrees and says Home Start, Royal College of Midwives, RCN, CPAG, the Birth Foundation, BLISS and Cosla.
The convener thanks Helen Peck and Jennifer Edmonstone.
'It's not that you're having one child and then a half child!'published at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image caption, Jennifer Edmonstone
SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks what level of support should children of multiple births receive.
Jennifer Edmonstone says she does not understand why 12 minutes in time makes such a huge difference for the payments received for her twins.
She argues all babies from a multiple births should receive the same amount though admits she does not have a specific figure.
Ms Peck agrees, adding "it's not that you're having one child and then a half child!"
Postpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
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End of twitter post 3Background: New social security payments outlined by Angela Constancepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, PADetails of the first social security payments to made by the Scottish government were first outlined last May.
The Best Start Grant, a replacement for the maternity grant to help target child poverty, will be paid from the summer of 2019.
Social Security Secretary Angela Constance said: "The delivery of these first benefits is the next milestone in building Scotland's new social security system - the largest, most complex programme of change in the history of devolution.
"The benefits we will deliver may be different in nature but there is one common thread which binds them - an investment in the people of Scotland."
Tory MSP asks about non-financial supportpublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image caption, Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne notes non-financial support might be encouraging healthcare professionals to be more mindful and not group multiples together.
Jennifer Edmonstone says she has often been given one prescription for both her children.
People seem to get confused that her identical twins are two individuals, she says.
Ms Ballantyne asks about milk banks.
The petitioner says she has not used donor milk and at one point was told she would not be allowed it.
Helen Peck says the milk bank is "an amazing scheme" and feel it does help to partially respond to some of the issues.
Background: New fund to help parents of premature babies in hospitalpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2018
Image source, PhotodiskParents 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.