SNP MSP Ash Denham wonders what the Scottish government is doing to support mental health in the workplace.

Image source, bbc

Ms McNeill calls for a temporary pilot scheme to provide free travel for the age groups to consider benefits and uptake.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says he would be happy to have this conversation if Ms McNeill can come forward with a costed plan.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government has recently held a consultation on changes to the national concession travel scheme.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf wants to extend it to Modern Apprentices and those on Job Grants and said people who already had passes would retain them.

The Scotland-wide free bus pass entitlement scheme was introduced in 2006.

The card allows passengers, aged over 60 or disabled, to travel free on local, registered or scheduled long-distance services.

Read more.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks about plans to extend concessionary travel for all 16- to 18-year-olds.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby calls for a Glasgow crossrail scheme to be progressed, saying this would improve connectivity with the rest of the west of Scotland.

Mr Yousaf says previous considerations of Glasgow crossrail concluded it was not feasible.

However he directs the member towards to local rail development fund.

Image source, bbc

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says five direct services are available now.

Additional services have been investigated but it was not considered feasible due to the detrimental impact on other services, he adds.

Mr Coffey says this a a significant impediment to Ayrshire residents who may want to take up opportunities in the capital.

The minister recommends the member continue to engage with ScotRail on the issue but again points to the problems with timetable.

The possibility of provision more direct rail services between Ayrshire and Edinburgh is raised by SNP MSP Willie Coffey.

Childcare Minister Maree Todd says 600 hours childcare is fully funded by the Scottish government while each local authority had to decide how it funds other wraparound care.

She adds that the coming expansion to 1140 free hours will reduce the need for wraparound care.

Ms Lamont says this answer does not really answer her questions.

Image source, bbc

The Labour MSP says the rising charges are a direct contradiction to affordable childcare and urges the minister to meet with parents.

Ms Todd says she is happy to meet with the parents.

The Scottish government has a track record of fully funding the expansion to 600 hours and will do so again to 1140 hours, the minister adds.

This will save families up to £4,500 per year, she estimates.

Image source, Getty Images

The public spending watchdog has questioned plans to fund increased nursery provision in Scotland.

Audit Scotland said in a report there was a "significant risk" councils would not be able to resource a planned expansion.

The Scottish government has promised to almost double the annual hours in paid-for nursery places to 1,140.

In response to the report, the government repeated its pledge to fully fund the policy.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont seeks a response is to reports that Glasgow City Council has increased charges for childcare.

After general questions at 11.40am we will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions from noon.

Image source, Scottish Parliament/PA/BBC

This will be followed by Labour MSP Johann Lamont leading a members' debate on Down's Syndrome Awareness Week.

Image source, Down's Syndrome Association

After a short break, MSPs will be updated on major infrastucture projects.

The Scottish government will then host a debate titled 'Building Greater Fairness in the Workplace'.

Image source, Getty Images

That's is the end of the committee.

Come back in 25 minutes for the start of general questions!

Image source, bbc

Scottish Information Commissioner Daren Fitzhenry says he is looking into time delays and wider FOI performance by the Scottish government, following the letter from the journalists last year.

Mr Fitzhenry says he concerns raised were serious and he says it was determined an interventon was necessary with:

1. An assessment phase examining the allegations
2. Looking throught the government's information tracker
3. After assessment problems will be identified
4. Final phase is how to fix the problems and prevent bad practice

Mr Fitzhenry says he anticipates that the assesment phase will be completed by the end of May.

SNP MSP Alex Neil says: "For me the fact that Tony Blair thinks the parallel legislation down south was his biggest mistake in my view makes this a raving success."

Mr Neil goes on to say if the Scottish government does not act on this issue this committee could introduce a Bill.

Image source, bbc

Carole Ewart from the Campaign for Freedom of Information Scotland says the inquiry must be opened up and submissions should be invited.

FOISA took a very narrow approach to designation, she says and adds that is a concern.

Carole Ewart from the Campaign for Freedom of Information Scotland says one of the best bits of the FOI Scotland Act is that anyone can make a request.

Ms Ewart says the simplicity of the process and the fact that it is enforceable makes the differene.

Ruchir Shah says FOISA is human rights based which is a really important development.

Image source, bbc

Robin McAlpine of Common Weal says lets not forget what a tranformatonal Act this has been.

Mr McAlpine says he is of the view that the Scottish Parliament coulde be an exmplar of openness and transparency with a bit of improvement.

Mr Kane says he thinks it could be improved quite considerabley and post-legislative scrutiny is crucial.

MSPs last year called for a "wholescale review" of the Scottish government's freedom of information (FoI) practices.

Journalists from across the media signed an open letter raising concerns about the way FoI requests are handled.

Neil Findlay led members' business on the topic at Holyrood, decrying a "systematic avoidance of scrutiny and accountability from the highest level".

Joe Fitzpatrick, for the Scottish government, said Scotland has the best FoI system in the UK.

Read more here.

Commercial sensitivity while a tender is going through is a fair reason for not providing some information in public contracts, Common Weal's Robin McAlpine says.

But keeping that information secret ten years after the tender is "nonsense", he says.

It is time to review the legislation because it is out of date after 12 years and during this review recommendations for other areas of transparency will surface, Mr McAlpine argues.