The tourism committee takes evidence on the Transient Visitor Levy, more commonly known as the tourist tax from council leaders.
We bring you extensive coverage and analysis of first minister's questions
An SNP MSP hosts a debate on the film 'Nae Pasaran!'
MSPs celebrate Scotland's food and drink
Ms Fabiani's motion:
Image source, Scottish parliamentSNP MSP Linda Fabiani now leads a debate celebrating a film highlighting the East Kilbride Rolls-Royce workers who refused to work on Chilean jet engines during the Pinochet coup.
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Ms Sturgeon welcomes the opening of the V&A, noting several ministers are taking part in the various opening events.
The confirms she will be touring the building tomorrow with a group of young people.
Ms Robison asks what the "next thing" will be for Dundee's regeneration journey.
The first minister says the V&A will be tranformative for Dundee, placing it on the cultural map.
The Scottish government looks forward to making additional investment in Dundee, she concludes.
A first look inside the V&A Dundee
The first images of the interior of Dundee's V&A Museum of Design have been released ahead of its opening at the weekend.
The images show the main entrance hall and staircase of the £80m building and the Scottish Design Galleries permanent collection.
SNP MSP Shona Robison queries how the official opening of the V&A in Dundee will be marked.
Tory MSP Dean Lockhart says the government has failed on all seven of its own economic targets.
Ms Sturgeon says she can't believe the member has missed the financial crash and austerity.
She says the Scotish economy grew faster than the rest of the UK.
Image source, bbcMs Sturgeon agrees productivity is important to boosting performance and she points out Aberdeen and Edinburgh has high productivity.
She highlights the productivity gap with the rest of the UK has been reduced.
Further investment to ensure productivity continues to improve is highlighted.
Ms Baillie says the UK's performance has been woeful overall and it therefore not something worthy of comparison.
She suggests productivity has "flatlined" and asks what action will be taken.
Investments in infrastructure and R&D, and measures to boost export growth are offered as examples of efforts to improve it.
Our aim is to match the performance of other high performing EU countries, Ms Sturgeon adds, and reflects on recent improvements in financial services and manufacturing.
There is good news in our progress on productivity, she states.
Image source, PAScotland's productivity levels are "broadly stagnant" and lagging behind many other European countries, according to a new report.
An independent policy think tank says a "concerted effort" is required if living standards are to improve.
The study by The David Hume Institute, external claims there has been no progress towards a Scottish government target to improve productivity rankings.
The Scottish government insisted the economy was "fundamentally strong".
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie raises the recent David Hume Institute report on productivity and asks what action is being taken to improve this.
Labour MSP Iain Gray says the first minister is "in denial", pointing to a "precipitous decline" in modern languages.
Ms Sturgeon accepts more can be done given the benefits to the economy and confidence of young people.
The Scottish government will continue to support local authorities and schools she adds.
Image source, ThnkstockHere's the Telegraph article Liz Smith referred to:
"Dozens of secondary schools are failing to teach pupils a compulsory foreign language for three years despite this being a key Scottish Government benchmark, the Telegraph can disclose.
"An exhaustive survey of all 359 state secondaries, conducted by Professor Jim Scott, found only 161 confirmed they taught a compulsory modern language until the end of S3.
"A further 56 said modern languages were compulsory to the end of S2 only and thereafter became optional, and three said they were compulsory for S1 pupils only.
"However, a further 139 failed to mention their provision anywhere on their websites or in their handbooks, in breach of parental information guidelines."
Image source, bbcMs Sturgeon says since 2013-14, £27.2m has been provided in additional funding and also points to investment in a national centre.
At least 91% of primary schools are meeting pupil's entitlement to learning targets, as are 92% of secondary schools, she adds.
Ms Smith points to the 8% of secondary schools are not implementing to 1+2 programme, suggesting the languages policy is not working well enough.
She calls for an urgent review of subject choice under the curriculum for excellence.
The first minister does not agree and points to an increase in language Higher passes.
Image source, Getty ImagesAccording to Tes Scotland:, external
"There has been a steep drop in the number of entries to the three most popular languages in Scottish schools between 2017 and 2018.
"Tes Scotland analysis of Scottish Qualifications Authority data has found a combined 5.2 per cent drop – for French, German and Spanish – across National 4, National 5, Higher and to Advanced Higher.
"The Scottish government had argued that a previous analysis of languages entries this year against those in 2013 should be treated with caution, as it involved comparisons of current and previous qualifications.
"The new analysis reveals a 5.2 per cent drop in like-for-like qualifications between 2017 and 2018 – in a year when entries to all subjects at these levels fell by 3.8 per cent – which has prompted concern among languages advocates. However, they also say that with primary schools factored in, more pupils in Scotland are learning languages than ever."
Tory MSP Liz Smith asks about action to improve the implementation of the 1+2 modern languages policy in broad general education.
Image source, bbcThe first minister says mobile telecommunications is reserved and therefore for the UK government to deal with.
She criticises the UK government's record on dealing with 'not spots'.
We can't wait for Westminster to deliver which is why we have created a mobile coverage plan for rural areas, she adds.
Mr Stevenson welcomes £25m from the Scottish government to improve mobile coverage and suggests the UK government has "little understanding" of the issue.
The first minister agrees with Mr Stevenson's argument that the matter should be devolved.
Image source, AlamyOver 5,500 miles of UK roads are without mobile phone coverage, a new report has revealed.
Five of the worst ten local authority areas for coverage are in Scotland.
The Highlands topped the list with 910 miles of road with no coverage.
If there is no network coverage from any of the four providers then not even an emergency call can be made.