Tory MSP Liz Smith asks about analysis to show which areas of spending are delivering the best results.

Ms Todd says studies show universal provision of high quality early learning and childcare helps improve children's ability to learn and can help close the attainment gap.

She also notes the intention to roll-out the expansion in the areas that need it most first.

Labour MSP Iain Gray says the Auditor General recently sounded a note of concern about the gap between what the local government felt they needed and what the government was proposing.

Mr Gray welcomes the closing of the gap by the goverment.

He raises concerns about the recruitment required to deliver this childcare ambition.

Image source, bbc

Ms Todd says as of December 2016 there were 33,430 workers in the daycare sector, with another 6,000 as childminders.

She cites a "very robust recruitment programme" with extra places at college, in apprenticeships and at university.

The minister is "absolutely confident we will deliver the extra workforce required".

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks when child accounts will be implemented and whether all ELC staff will be paid the living wage.

She also seeks clarity on whether services across the sector will benefit, not just local authorities.

The minister confirms that by 2020, the 'funding follows the child' model will be implemented.

On the living wage, she says this has been underpinned by a quality standard for providers which includes this.

Ms Todd says the funding agreement was made with Cosla which looked closely at their requirements and the Scottish government has agreed to fully fund it.

Image source, bbc

Childcare and Early Years Minister Maree Todd says the landmark deal provides sustainable funding for local government.

Ms Todd says the funding package is the collective best estimate of the costs.

She says the estimates will be kept under review continually.

The minister says such ambitious plans comes with challenges which she is committed to addressing them in partnership with Cosla.

She says one of those challenges was the funding package and says she is delighted agreement has been agreed on this.

Image source, Getty Images

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

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

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

The report drew attention to a gap between council and government estimates of the cost of the policy.

Read more here.

Childcare and Early Years Minister Maree Todd says the landmark agreement is the culmination of two years of work to understand the cost of the Scottish government's ambition to provide children with the best start to life.

Council leaders and COSLA are fully behind the policy, she states.

The Scottish government has committed to provide £567m per year by 2021-22, the first full financial year of the expansion, Ms Todd says.

This brings the total spend on childcare provision to £990m.

The minister says the estimates from March 2018 form the basis of the agreement reached.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government has struck a funding deal of almost £2bn with councils to fund a flagship policy to boost early learning and childcare.

Ministers have pledged to increase free nursery provision from the current 600 hours to 1,140 by August 2020.

But spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned in February of a "significant risk" that local authorities would not be able to fund the expansion.

The government and Cosla said they had now reached a "landmark agreement".

The deal means £990m will be spent on day-to-day funding for the scheme by 2021.

This is £150m more than the government's previous estimate.

Read more here.

Health Secretary Shona Robison says "today is a landmark day".

The monitoring plan involves an extensive portfolio of research, covering health impacts, economic impact on businesses and other areas, says Ms Robison.

She confirms some studies will be carried out by NHS Health Scotland and others commissioned.

An overarching advisory group has also been established.

We believe it will take 20 years for all of the benefits of the policy to be realised, the health secretary adds.

Scotland's supermarkets will have to increase the prices of some own-brand spirits by as much as £3 from today.

A look at the big six supermarkets showed vodka and gin being sold for as little as £10 for a 70cl bottle.

The new minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would mean vodka could not be sold for less than £13.13 for a 70cl bottle and whisky would be £14.

Large packs of beer, strong cider and some wine will also be affected.

The cost of large bottles of cider at most supermarkets would more than double.

• Read more
• Scotland ends cheap booze as minimum price starts

SNP MSP Ash Denham asks about the process of monitoring the effectiveness of the pricing per unit of alcohol.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says MSPs are just holding the government to account, unlike in the last two questions.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says the real reason that the original report has not been sought by Scottish ministers is beacause it reflects badly on the Scottish government.

The minister does not agree with that and goes on to say the SPA want urgent assurances from Police Scotland on the issues raised in the BBC Scotland documentary.

He again says progress has been made in a number of areas and it is a matter for the producers if they want to reflect that in the course of the programme.

Green MSP John Finnie notes there has not been an unsolved murder within the lifetime of Police Scotland, organised crime is being tackled and victims of sexual crime have growing confidence in the police.

I have confidence in Police Scotland, he says, does the cabinet secretary?

Mr Matheson welcomes the tone of the question, stating there are areas of real improvement and areas where more is needed.

The service is moving in the right direction thanks to the officers and staff of Police Scotland, he says.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says he is disappointed there is not a ministerial statement, as this is a serious matter.

Mr Johnson asks about the suppression of key allegations in the report itself.

Is the cabinet secretary sure there has been no repetition of suppression like this, he asks and then probes as to when the cabinet secretary first new about this, as Liam Kerr did.

Image source, bbc

Mr Matheson says the nature of the report was brought to his attention when the BBC published information relating to the programme.

The Scottish government never recieved the report and it predates the time he was in office.

He again says this report should have been shared with the SPA.

Mr Kerr says an early draft of the report indicated Police Scotland had used unauthorisied surveillance

colluded on witness statements and failed to reveal evidence among other issues.

Are all this allegations true and will the cabinet secretary order a full review into this, the Tory MSP asks.

Mr Matheson says it will be taken forward by the Scottish Police Authority.

This report was an internal Police Scotland report and it was not shared with the Scottish government, he adds.

Mr Kerr says: "This is a scandal and I do not use this word lightly."

The Tory MSP says an entire section of the report entitled "culture of fear" was retitled and redacted.

When did the cabinet secretary learn of this whitewash, he asks, adding if it was in the last few weeks Mr Matheson is not across his brief.

Image source, bbc

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the report was four years old and he says he would expect there would have been appropriate oversight by the SPA.

The minister outlines the actions that have been taken since.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the documentary explored issues in Police Scotland shortly after its establishment.

Many of the issues raised are for Police Scotland itself to address, he says, and he adds they are committed to doing so.

A meeting this week will take place to discuss the ongoing transformation of policing in Scotland, including establishing an outcomes-focused model, the cabinet secretary confirms.

It is clear the issues encountered in various areas, such as stop-and-search, pre-date the establishment of Police Scotland, Mr Matheson states.

He says the establishment of a single organisation has already led to some improvements, particularly around ethics and executive standards.

Secret police documents leaked to the BBC show attempts were made to "suppress" a report containing claims of serious corruption and criticism of Police Scotland's bosses.

The report was commissioned by then-Chief Constable Sir Stephen House in 2014, a year after the new force began.

Early drafts of the confidential report show the chief constable's office wanted negative comments deleted.

A section where officers described a culture of fear was also removed.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr seeks a response to the allegations made in the BBC's A Force in Crisis programme indicating the Chief Constable's office suggested edits to a critical report on culture and ethos at Police Scotland.