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Making savings is becoming "increasingly critical" for Scotland's councils amid shrinking budgets and rising demand, auditors have said.

The Accounts Commission said local authority budgets had seen a real-terms cut of 9.6% over the last eight years.

And they warned that Scotland's aging population and demographic changes were increasing the strain on services.

The Scottish government said council funding was "fair" and had gone up in real terms in the most recent budget.

All 32 of Scotland's councils haveopted to raise local taxes by 3% this year- the maximum allowed without incurring sanctions from the government.

The Accounts Commission is Scotland's independent public spending watchdog for local government.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks what the Scottish government’s response is to the recent Accounts Commission report, Local Government in Scotland: Challenges and Performance 2018.

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In response to SNP MSP Christine Grahame, the first minister agrees that just hosting a sporting event, on its own, will not increase participation in exercise and sport.

Ms Sturgeon outlines the investment the governement is making to try and make this increase happen.

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Ms Sturgeon says everybody will join in agreement and congratulate Team Scotland for their efforts in the Commonwealth Games.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle agrees and praises the amazing efforts of Scotland's athletes.

Mr Whittle says there must be accessible opportunity in sport and says the school estate must be opened up to help this.

The air of consensus continues as the first minister wholehearedly agrees with the former Commonwealth Games one shoe gold medal winning athlete.

Scotland have achieved their finest-ever Commonwealth Games result, according to performance director Mike Whittingham.

Fifty-three medals were won in Glasgow four years ago - nine more than in the Gold Coast this time round.

But Whittingham points out that, in 2014, 13 medals were won in judo, which was not included in Australia.

"You could deduct those 13. That's almost, arguably, the best-ever result by a Scottish team," he said.

It was Scotland's second highest medal tally - and highest at an overseas Games - with nine golds compared to 19 in Glasgow.

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks, in light of Scotland's success at the Commonwealth Games, what the Scottish government is doing to ensure that there is opportunity for all to participate in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite sport.

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Green MSP Ross Greer asks if the military used Prestwick Airport in its recent attacks on Syria.

The first minister says the commercial use of Prestwick has been aired in the chamber recently.

She calls for a "long-term, sustainable political settlement" for Syria.

SNP MSP Ivan McKee says last week the UK government took military action in Syria on the basis of "flimsy evidence" and at the "behest of a presidential tweet".

Ms Sturgeon says last week undermined the importance of welcoming those fleeing the conflict in Syria.

"All of us are appalled at the actions of the Assad regime," she says.

She says isolated air strikes do not resolve the underlying crisis in Syria.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said military action in Syria risks making the situation "worse not better".

Speaking to the BBC after joint action by the US, France and the UK earlier this month, she said "cool heads" were needed in determining strategy.

The bomb and missile strikes were in response to a suspected chemical attack on the Syrian town of Douma.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the action was about saying "enough is enough".

Read more here.

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The first minister says around 2,150 refugees have been resettled under the Syrian Resettlement Programme since October 2015, and she adds she hopes they have all received a warm welcome.

Mr Macpherson says the Home Office must look again at support to asylum seekers and refugees.

The first minister thanks local authorities and organsiations who have welcomed and supported all asylum seekers and refugees.

Ms Sturgeon says the support through the the Syrian Resettlement Programme is very welcome and she encoruages the UK government to properly fund the integration of all asylum seekers.

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Last December Scotland met a target to provide homes for 2,000 Syrian refugees three years ahead of schedule.

The UK government has committed to resettling 20,000 people fleeing the war-torn country through the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme.

Local authorities north of the border agreed to take in 10% of that number.

But the council body Cosla said that goal had been reached just two years into the five-year scheme.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Scotland is an open and welcoming country and today's celebration, welcoming the 2,000th Syrian refugee to our country, is testament to that."

Read more here.

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SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks how many Syrian refugees have been resettled in Scotland.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd says the Tories are encouraging overseas companies to bid for new £1bn shipbuilding contracts despite promises made ahead of the independence referendum and calls for backing for a Clyde bid.

Ms Sturgeon agrees, saying: "This is nothing short of a blatant betrayal of Scottish shipyards."

Tory MSP Edward Mountain points to Audit Scotland's report on NHS Highland contracts and asks whether the first minister has "complete confidence" in the management of the health board.

Ms Sturgeon says the report relates to two contracts for NHS Highland which date from 1998.

NHS Highland has said it is taking action to implement the report's recommendations, she says.

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Scottish Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale says at the time of Gordon Aikman's death a promise for a fast track benefits system from the health secretary was made.

Ms Dugdale says a Scottish government amendment to the Social Security Bill has been tabled that will maintain the failing system as it is.

Ms Sturgeon says this a difficult, sensitive and complex issue, but says the social security minister is open to discussion on this.

The first minister says the second part of the amendment says there is no hard or rigid timeframe.

She says clinicians will still be able to use their judgement on a case by case basis.;

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More than a third of mothers have experienced mental health issues related to parenthood, according to an online survey of 1,800 British parents by the BBC Radio 5 live and YouGov last November.

The study revealed that, in comparison, 17% of fathers had experienced similar issues.

More than two-thirds of the affected mothers sought professional help - suffering from conditions such as acute stress, severe anxiety and postpartum depression.

But 15% of mothers and a quarter of fathers say they didn't receive any emotional support for their parenting at all.

Read more here.