Ms Grahame says the concept of animals being sentient has changed the approach to animal welfare.

She seeks a guarantee on calf welfare in whichever country they are in.

The minister agrees the welfare of the animals is paramount which is why the Scottish government has started a project monitoring every stage of exportation.

Ms Grahame says a ban on live exports would remove all the worry about what happens to calves once they leave these shores.

Ms Gougeon says she is engaging with dairy farmers to investigate the issue and she is looking into alternative home markets.

Image source, bbc

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon says she shares Ms Grahame's passion for the welfare of livestock and insists Scotland adheres to the highest EU standards.

The minister accepts no one is very comfortable with the situation of the transport of dairy calves.

She explains P&O ferries have confirmed they will no longer be transporting calves having been shocked by the BBC Scotland documentary last night.

The minister says she too was shocked by the programme but adds there was no suggestion of harm being done to the calves.

A ferry operator has said that it will stop carrying calves to Europe after animal welfare concerns were raised by a BBC Scotland investigation.

P&O said it was ending the practice with immediate effect following the broadcast last night of "Disclosure: The Dark Side of Dairy".

About 5,000 calves were shipped to Europe last year from Scotland. Campaigners claim the long journey is harmful but the industry said the alternative was shooting them at birth.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks whether the Scottish government will move to ban the export of livestock for fattening for slaughter.

Image source, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL

Mr Carson says there was a "ceiling collapse" and adds "if this school had been filled with pupils and staff at that time it would have been disastrous."

The Tory MSP calls for assurance that the process of deeming the safety of buildings is reviewed.

Mr Swinney explains a local authority must provide that assurance.

Education Secretary John Swinney says safety of pupils and staff is a primary concern and confirms the Scottish government has been in close contact with the council.

Mr Carson lists a number of incidents which have occurred at the site and calls for an inquiry.

The cabinet secretary says the contractors must be held to account and council representatives will have a meeting tomorrow on such matters.

He accepts the need for transparency as investigations gonig forward.

A council chief executive has apologised to children, parents and staff over the closure of a new school campus in Dumfries on safety grounds.

Gavin Stevenson said the community should have been celebrating the £28m North West Community Campus.

Instead, the local authority shut the site on Friday after a child was struck by a smart board.

Classroom by classroom checks are being carried out to see when pupils can safely return.

Read more.

Tory MSP Finlay Carson asks about discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the closure of the new North West Community Campus in Dumfries.

MSPs have the opportunity to ask questions of a topical nature.

Mr Fareed Ahmad from the National Executive of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK is delivering today's time for reflection.

Image source, Getty/PA

After lunch, there will be topical questions on the North West Community Campus in Dumfries and livestock exports.

Then Mike Russell will give a statement on ‘Preparations for EU Exit’.

The rest of the afternoon in the chamber will be devoted to the Social Enterprise World Forum which has gotten underway in Edinburgh today.

Finally, Labour MSP Claire Baker will use her member’s debate to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Ecology Centre at Kinghorn.

Image source, bbc

David McArthur from NHS Orkney says any skill mix package must take due cognisance of needing to provide "specialist generalist people" in places like Orkney.

Mr McArthur points out in rural areas the critical mass of staff is lacking.

Labour MSP David Stewart asks whether the Islands Act has been taken into account for this legislation.

David McArthur suggests the safe staffing bill does not fully reflect the needs of the islands.

We need the differences to be recognised, he argues, for example in terms of resilience.

Mr Stewart presses Mr McArthur as to whether there is a lack of island proofing.

The NHS Orkney representative reiterates the need for something different to be on offer to remote rural areas.

Dr Chung says using an average to plan capacity is a "fool's errand" because it means there will not be enough staff half of the time.

Head count alone is too crude he explains, and calls for other elements to be taken into account, such as time of year, time of day etc.

We should not focus soley on efficiency but also on reserves to account for times of increased pressure, he states.

Prof McMahon emphasises that staff will still have to assess risk at the start of any shift.

Dr Ross-Davie agrees the tools must not replace risk management on a day-to-day basis she states.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks if we are missing a trick by not including social care in the legislation.

Dr David Chung agrees: "It is essential that social care is included in this."

The RCEMS representative explains any tools that are developed must ensure that there is a broader scope and overview of all workforce planning.

Mr Cole-Hamilton asks if an appropriate skills mix should be specified.

Rachel Cackett from the Royal College of Nursing Scotland says the nursing tool will not give you a skills mix but an actual number.

Ms Cackett reiterates her concerns the legislation does not deal with risk, giving the example of an outbreak of flu hitting staff and patients.

Image source, SPL

More than half of the nurses questioned as part of an RNC survey in 2017 said they did not have enough time to give the level of care they would like.

The RCN called for a review of whether there is enough nursing staff to provide safe care to patients.

The online survey included 3,000 nurses and midwives in Scotland who were asked a series of questions about their last shift at work.

Preliminary findings released in July 2017 revealed that half of respondents reported patient care was compromised on their shift due to staffing shortages.

The full survey results, external also show that 54% of nurses did not have enough time to provide the level of care they would like, while 38% did not feel satisfied with the quality of care.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Rachel Cackett from the Royal College of Nursing Scotland welcomes the review of the tools by the Scottish government.

Ms Cackett highlights the change to emphasis on care in the community.

She points out there is not a single person who would not promote the need for multidisciplinary teams when required.

However, you still have to know how many of each individual profession you require to treat the patients, she says.

Ms Cackett says you need to know how many nurses you need, but that does not mean you do not apply this to a multidisciplinary process.

She explains the bill is not trying to do everything that is being described.