The Culture Committee takes evidence on the screen sector from Creative Scotland and the culture secretary
Opposition leaders and backbench MSPs quiz the first minister
Tory MSP leads a debate on Edinburgh's city bypass
MSPs quiz rural and environment ministers in portfolio questions
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay delivers the inaugural statement on the medium term financial strategy
The final stage debate of the Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Transport and Islands Minister Humza Yousaf says Hial will carry out a consultation shortly on what a strategy for future services will look like.
Mr Halcro Johnson asks about discussions with other potential providers, noting the dominance of one.
The more air services, the better for our islands, states Mr Yousaf.
Image source, LOGANAIRA Loganair aircraft on Barra's beach runway
Flights to and from Glasgow and the Hebridean islands of Barra and Tiree will be increased this summer.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the move was in response to talks with both islands communities about rescheduling some services.
There will be 22 additional Glasgow-Tiree return flights this summer, and 22 additional Glasgow-Barra return flights between May and early June.
They have been made possible by making changes to winter timetables.
Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnson asks the Scottish government what assessments it has conducted of passenger air links to Scotland’s island communities.
Image source, bbcTransport Minister Humza Yousaf
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf points to £500m on the M8 M73 M74 improvement and details other projects in the central region.
Mr Griffin raises concerns about the closure of the Twechar bridge over the Forth and Clyde canal.
Mr Yousaf insists the government has increased funding on canals and points out work is ongoing on the bridge.
Labour MSP Mark Griffin asks about investment for transport infrastructure in the Central Scotland region.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing confirms a rural skills action plan will be published in due course.
Mr Rowley expresses concern about small firms' ability to deliver apprenticeships and calls for the extension of the shared apprenticeship scheme.
Mr Ewing praises the scheme and agrees more can be done.
Labour MSP Alex Rowley asks the government what support it gives for skills development in the rural economy.
Image source, Getty Images/Thinkstock/BBCThe highlight of the afternoon will be Finance Secretary Derek Mackay delivering the inaugural statement on the medium term financial strategy.
We'll bring you extensive coverage of the statement as well as the latest forecasts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission.
Image source, BBC/PA/Scottish ParlamentEnding the day is the final debate on the Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.
First up though is portfolio questions, displaced from its normal slot on a Wednesday due to the Islands Bill Stage 3 considerations.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf points to £20bn investment in national infrastructure in recent years.
He refers members to Transport Scotland's strategy looking at how to progress intelligent transport systems.
The investment in Sheriffhall roundabout is significant, the minister states.
Mr Yousaf says the Scottish government has listened to cyclists' concerns regarding the project and he hopes final proposals will meet their needs.
He gives an assurance that the Scottish government will deliver the scheme as soon as possible, though he cannot give an exact construction date as it may be subject to appeal.
Reducing the number of cars by investing in railways and other modes of public transport is important, the minister states.
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Quote MessageI would rather pull my teeth out with pliers with no anaesthetic than drive the bypass each day.....I'm sure the minister would volunteer for that!"
Neil Findlay, Labour MSP
Image source, bbcNeil Findlay and Humza Yousaf
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Colin Smyth
Labour MSP Colin Smyth concedes there have been some improvements but A720 has remained largely unchanged since its construction in the 1980s.
Mr Smyth calls for more improvements particularly at Sheriffhall whose name sends a shudder down the spine of any commuter to the capital.
The Labour MSP points out that when he travels to Edinburgh he does everything he possibly can to avoid bringing the car.
He calls for investment in alternatives to the car, where passengers and not profits are put first.
SNP MSP Colin Beattie
SNP MSP Colin Beattie says the Edinburgh bypass is the most used road in his constituency.
Many queues start even before the bypass and create congestion on several other roads, he explains.
He calls for a careful examination of public transport, suggesting this could help alleviate traffic.
Extending the route of the trams to towns like Musselburgh and Dalkeith could provide a faster link into town, Mr Beattie suggests.
Image source, Getty ImagesUK drivers wasted an average of 31 hours in rush-hour traffic last year, costing each motorist £1,168, a study by traffic data firm Inrix suggests.
The UK is the world's 10th most congested country and London is Europe's second most gridlocked city after Moscow.
Manchester, Birmingham, Luton and Edinburgh completed the UK's top five major areas affected.
The government said a record £23bn was being invested in road schemes.
Image source, bbcMr Briggs tells the chamber the problems of the City Bypass are only going to get worse.
The Tory MSP says constituents and businesses are rightly alarmed about the increased usage of the bypass.
He welcomes grade separation at bottlenecks, but calls for more action from the government.
The Tory MSP cites genuine and effective public transpot options as a potential solution.
Mr Briggs calls for a feasibility study into widening the City Bypass.
Image source, ThinkstockLast November we reported that four of the UK's worst traffic bottlenecks occur on the Edinburgh bypass, according to new research.
The city also ranks second in a list of Britain's most congested cities, while Glasgow is third.
Only London ranked worse than Scotland's largest cities in the survey of the UK's roads by Inrix Roadway Analytics, external.
It found that the jams could cost drivers in Scotland £5.1bn in wasted time over the next decade.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Miles Briggs
Tory MSP Miles Briggs begins by quoting from this tweet from earlier this week:
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Mr Briggs says he is glad to say he saw the business minister in the chamber yesterday so he must have escaped the congestion.
The Tory MSP insists improving the bypass is something he has been pressing the government on and something he will continue to press them on.
He highlights concerns raised by the FSB.
The Tory MSP goes on to cite a report pointing to the "City Bypass" as the most congested trunk road outside London.
Tory MSP Miles Briggs' motion:
Image source, Scottish parliament