Summary

  • Live coverage of the Public Petitions Committee taking evidence from a young ME sufferer calling for a review of treatment

  • Plus reports and backgrounders from the Culture Committee as it takes evidence from STV on the recent job losses announcement

  • The first minister faces questions from opposition leaders on home detention, the health service and education

  • An SNP MSP leads a debate on onshore wind farms

  • Justice Secretary Michael Matheson confirms there will be a review into the policing of the miners' strike

  • MSPs consider Lord Bracadale's review of hate crime legislation

  1. Background: Management of Offenders (Scotland) Billpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Community payback hi-vis

    The Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill was announced in the programme for government back in September and introduced to the parliament in February.

    The bill includes measures to enable new technologies to be used for electronic monitoring - and allow this sort of monitoring to be used as part of more community sentences and orders.

    It will also reduce the length of time which many people will be required to self-disclose previous offences and make the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 more accessible for individuals and employers using the legislation.

  2. Review of Parole ongoing following Worboy case says Sturgeonpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    ruth davidsonImage source, bbc

    Ms Davidson says this case has rightly drawn the focus on home release, but the issue goes far further to parole and early release.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says it is wrong victims and their families can't speak against the release of prisoners on parole.

    "Allow the victims to speak," she demands.

    The first minister says the Parole Board for Scotland is independent and discussions are ongoing in light of the review of the Worboys case south of the border.

    Ms Sturgeon points out short sentences should be a last resort as reoffending is lower with non-custodial stentences.

    She explains that is the motivation behind the reforms the Scottish government are putting forward.

  3. Background: Use of electronic tags to be extendedpublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Electronic tag

    The use of electronic tagging on criminals could be extended under proposals put forward by the Scottish government, external.

    It has published legislation that would see new GPS monitoring technology used for the first time.

    Electronic tags are currently only used to ensure offenders stay within their own home for certain periods of time.

    But the new technology could be used to also ensure the tagged person does not enter specific locations.

    The Justice Committee is currently considering the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill, with its report due out shortly.

    Read more here.

  4. 'Isn't it time to put victims first for once?'published at 12:09 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Ruth DavidsonImage source, bbc

    Ms Davidson says the government accepts there is a problem but there is going to be more electronic tagging anway.

    She asks: "Isn't it time to put victims first for once?"

    The first minister says that her government is putting victims first, and stresses the importance of rehabilitation in preventing future offending.

    She accepts something went badly wrong in the James Wright case and repeats that if wider lessons are to be learned they must be.

  5. First minister says important the right safeguards are in place for home detentionpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    nicola sturgeonImage source, bbc

    Ms Davidson says James Wright had 16 previous convictions and went on to stab Mr McClelland to death.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says people deserve to know how many people commit crimes while on home release, but the data is not available.

    Ms Sturgeon states it is important to have systems in place to help rehabilitate prisoners to reduce the rate of reoffending.

    The first minister says it is also important the right safeguards are in place.

    She says that if there are lessons to be learned and changes to be made, she is determined they will happen.

  6. Background: Investigation ordered over curfew breach murderpublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    James Wright (left) murdered Craig McClelland in an attack in PaisleyImage source, Facebook/Police Scotland
    Image caption,

    James Wright (left) murdered Craig McClelland in an attack in Paisley

    An investigation has been ordered into how a man was able to commit a "brutal" murder despite breaching his home release curfew six months earlier.

    James Wright was jailed for life for killing Craig McClelland, 31, in a random street attack in Paisley.

    He was "unlawfully at large" having breached the conditions of his curfew.

    Justice Secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs he had asked the prisons and police watchdogs to "look at this matter thoroughly".

    The Scottish Conservatives called for major reforms to the parole system in light of the case and others.

    Read more here.

  7. And we're off................published at 12:06 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    ruth davidsonImage source, bbc

    Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson asks the first minister how many criminals on home detention have committed offences in the past three years.

    The first minister says she does not have that figure to hand but says at any one time there are around 300 people on home detention.

    Ms Sturgeon says she assumes Ms Davidson's question is related to James Wright leaving Craig McClelland bleeding to death after stabbing him through the heart in Paisley.

    Mr Wright was still at liberty despite breaching his curfew conditions six months earlier.

  8. First minister's questions is next.................published at 11:59 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    FMQsImage source, Scottish Parliament/PA

    We will now bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions.

  9. Stirling city centre business closurespublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Tory MSP Dean Lockhart asks what action the government can take to prevent further business closures in Stirling city centre.

  10. Background: Scottish unemployment falls by 6,000published at 11:58 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    ScienceImage source, Getty Images

    Unemployment in Scotland fell by 6,000 between January and March to 118,000, according to official figures.

    The jobless rate now stands at 4.3%, which is slightly above the UK figure of 4.2%.

    The number of people in work aged 16 and over in Scotland fell by 2,000 to 2.63 million.

    Data from the Office for National Statistics also showed that Scotland's employment rate for people of working age rose slightly to 74.7%.

    Read more here.

  11. People who have never been in employmentpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Tory MSP Bill Bowman asks the Scottish government what steps it will take to reduce the number of people who have never been in employment.

  12. Learning estate improvement details due out later this yearpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Education Secretary John SwinneyImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Education Secretary John Swinney

    Education Secretary John Swinney says the school building programme is helping to replace school's in the worst condition.

    Ms Gilruth points to schools in Glenrothes having a poor rating and calls for them to be prioritised.

    Fife Council was awarded £57m for the construction of schools, Mr Swinney highlights.

    I have committed to announcing further details on improving the learning estate later on this year, the education secretary adds.

  13. Background: No confidence vote for firm responsible for 17 Edinburgh schoolspublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    The consortium had significant issues at Oxgang Primary SchoolImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The consortium had significant issues at Oxgang Primary School

    A motion of no confidence has been passed against a consortium responsible for 17 Edinburgh school buildings.

    City of Edinburgh Council members said Edinburgh Schools Partnership's handling of the building crisis was "absolutely deplorable".

    In February, a pupil was struck by a ceiling tile at Oxgangs Primary School while the roof of the building suffered damage last month.

    The ESP earlier defended its maintenance record.

    It said the safety of children and staff in its building was its "primary concern."

    Read more here.

  14. Maintaining the school estatepublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth asks what the government's role is in maintaining the school estate.

  15. Health secretary accepts recruitment remains a challenge in the Highlandspublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Health Secretary Shona RobisonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Health Secretary Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison points to improved workforce planning, better use of technology and caseload management.

    She accepts recruitment continues to be a challenge, however.

    Ms Grant points to various staff shortages in children's health services.

    The cabinet secretary says Highland Council has recruited a number of occupational therapists for speech and language therapy recently.

    The Highlands have tried innovative ways of improving services, such as telephone consultations and universal resources, Ms Robison adds.

    The health visiting services are also being expanded, she states.

  16. Background: Child health care progress in Scotland praisedpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Scottish policies designed to cut child poverty and boost health visitor numbers have been welcomedImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Scottish policies designed to cut child poverty and boost health visitor numbers have been welcomed

    The Scottish government has been praised for progress made on children's health over the last year.

    But the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said urgent action was still needed to improve the review system for child deaths.

    The RCPCH issued a series of recommendations to improve child health, externalacross the UK 12 months ago.

    In a scorecard on nations' progress, it said Scotland and Wales were performing better than England.

    Read more here.

  17. Children's health services in the Highlandspublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asks what the government is doing to reduce waiting times for children’s health services in the Highlands.

  18. Labour MSP backs rollout of 50mph for HGVs on all roadspublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Transport Minister Humza YousafImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Transport Minister Humza Yousaf

    Transport Minister Humza Yousaf confirms the findings will be published later this summer.

    Data from the Department for Transport is also anticipated in the coming months, he adds.

    Mr Stewart says the pilot has been a success and calls for the rollout of the speed limit across the country.

    The minister says if it can be done in a way that does not impact safety or environmental commitments, this will be considered.

  19. Background: 50mph lorry speed limit on A9 single carriageway agreedpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    The increased speed limit is aimed at improving safety and reducing driver frustrationImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The increased speed limit is aimed at improving safety and reducing driver frustration

    Legislation raising the speed limit for lorries on single carriageway stretches of the A9 between Perth and Inverness was signed in 2014.

    The new 50mph speed limit will come into force alongsideaverage speed camera systemson 28 October.

    The move is aimed at improving safety and reducing driver frustration on the trunk road.

    The Scottish government has committed to converting the full length of the A9 to a dual carriageway.

  20. 50mph speed limit pilot for HGVs on the A9published at 11:49 British Summer Time 7 June 2018

    Labour MSP David Stewart asks the Scottish government when it plans to publish the findings of the 50mph speed limit pilot for HGVs on the A9.