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
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about discussions with the UK government regarding reports that an estimated 1,000 miles of roads in Scotland have no mobile phone signal.
Image source, bbcMSPs unanimously passed legislation to establish a devolved Scottish social security system in April.
Holyrood is being given responsibility for 11 benefits, including disability living allowance, personal independence payments and carer's allowance.
The benefits are relied upon by 1.4 million people across the country, and are worth about £3.3bn a year.
The devolution of the powers is being staggered, with the benefits system due to be fully operational by 2021.
The payments will be administered by a new Scottish social security agency, headquartered in Dundee and Glasgow, with 1,500 jobs split across the two sites.
A further 400 people will be employed at smaller sites across the country.
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Image source, bbcSNP MSP George Adam asks about support for carers under the new devolved system.
Today is a landmark moment in devolution history as the first payments are being made by the new Scottish social security agency, replies the first minister.
Carers will see benefits increase by 13% she adds.
She calls for "total control" over social security.
Image source, NICK MAILERInquiry chairwoman Lady Smith asked the Scottish government to remove the four-year deadline
In June we reported that the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry had been extended to ensure more survivors' voices wer heard.
The independent inquiry is looking in detail at historical abuse of children in residential care in Scotland.
Its chairwoman, senior judge Lady Smith, requested that a requirement to report back to ministers within four years be removed.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has now agreed the inquiry should report "as soon as reasonably practicable".
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Johann Lamont raises the "harrowing" evidence given to the child abuse inquiry and expresses concern about the late implementation of a compensation scheme.
She calls for this to be accelerated and for the setting up of an interim compensation scheme.
The first minister says the report on compensation was received last week and the Scottish government is considering it.
She is unable to give a full response because the report is still be looked at, she states.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP James Dornan highlights plummeting profits at John Lewis, which it attributes to Brexit.
Ms Sturgeon criticises the UK government, urging it to put business concerns at the forefront of Brexit negotations.
Image source, EYES ON ANIMALSThree-week-old calves are being transported to Europe
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 on Monday of "Disclosure: The Dark Side of Dairy".
The Scottish government said it was concerned at P&O's reaction.
NFU Scotland said it was a "disappointing" decision and described the documentary as "sensationalised".
About 5,000 calves were shipped to Europe last year from Scotland.
Image source, bbcGreen MSP Mark Ruskell says the government's chief vet has claimed that the practice of transporting dairy calves to Spain is acceptable.
The first minister insists this is an emotive issue and she says the chief vet set out the facts.
She adds welfare of animals is absolutely paramount and there is no evidence that regulations are being broken.
Mr Rennie says it sounds like the FM is saying EIS are wrong, accusing her of ignoring teachers.
He argues it is a waste of resource, a slippery path to league tables, and that the data is useless.
When this parliament votes next week to scrap tests for P1 pupils, will she respect this he asks?
The first minister says the Scottish government will continue to argue its cases robustly.
"I am not saying the EIS is wrong, I am saying I have a difference of opinion with the EIS."
She offers a defence of the tests and says there is a common sense argument for them.
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Image source, ThinkstockPupils are assessed in reading, writing and numeracy in P1, P4, P7 and S3
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie returns to the issue of standardised testing of pupils in P1.
So how do they work?
Scotland's largest teaching union is calling for national assessments for P1 pupils to be scrapped.
The assessments were introduced last year to gauge children's numeracy and literacy skills, but have been opposed by some teachers and politicians.
The EIS believes the tests are inappropriate and has warned of a boycott if matters do not improve.
The Scottish government says the tests are appropriate for five-year-olds and should be enjoyable for children.
BBC Scotland education correspondent Jamie McIvor answers some common questions on the assessments.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie turns attention to a recent letter from EIS on the testing of P1 pupils in schools.
What more evidence does she need that these tests should go, he asks?
The first minister says assessments in primary schools are not new, the Scottish government has simply standardised them and made them relevant to the curriculum for excellence.
She insists they provide diagnostics information to teachers on the performance of young people and teachers also have discretion to stop pupils undergoing them.
Tory MSP Liam Kerr says last week Marine Scotland withdrew the licence to dredge at Montrose Port.
The first minister says her cabinet secretary will look into the issue in great detail.
Image source, CAMERON BROOKSThe Bakhsh family fled Pakistan in 2012 and live in Glasgow
A Christian man who has spent six years seeking asylum has appealed to the prime minister to allow him and his family to stay in the UK.
Maqsood Bakhsh fled Pakistan in 2012 with his wife and two sons after Islamic extremists threatened to kill him because of his religious beliefs.
They now live in Glasgow and fear their lives would be in danger if they returned to Pakistan.
The Home Office said every asylum case was assessed on its individual merits.
It said officials would contact the Bakhsh family to discuss their circumstances after their case was highlighted by the Church of Scotland.
The catalyst for Mr Bakhsh leaving Pakistan with his wife Parveen, their sons Somer and Areebs - then aged nine and seven - was the murder of two Christians shot outside a court in Faisalabad in 2010.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Bob Doris raises the Bakhsh family in his constituency who have had their asylum application rejected.
The first minister critcises "deficiencies" in the UK government's asylum regime and confirms the Scottish government will look at options.
Image source, Getty ImagesVisitors are drawn to the Western Isles because of its landscapes and heritage, says Outer Hebrides Tourism
Tourists who have booked holidays at short notice to the Western Isles can face difficulties getting there by ferry, a tourism group has said.
Outer Hebrides Tourism said ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne was doing the best it could to meet increased demand with the resources available.
It has called on Transport Scotland to help CalMac by investing more in it.
Transport Scotland said it was aware of capacity challenges at peak times on CalMac's Clyde and Hebrides network.
It also said that more than £1bn had been invested in the services since 2007.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Jamie Greene raises the Ardrossan to Arran ferry which has been disrupted by cancellations, which he attributes to an ageing fleet.
The first minister says she is aware of pressures on the ferry network and highlights £1bn investment from the Scottish government since 2007, including the addition of eight new ferries to the Clyde and Hebrides fleet.
Image source, bbcMr Leonard says 25,000 referrals have been rejected since the first minister took office.
He says Scottish Labour will work with the Scottish government to deliver changes but argues the government has been "too slow to react".
With thousands of Scotland's children rejected for treatment, surely the first minister should show "an ounce of regret", the Scottish Labour leader states.
He urges her to apologise to Scotland's young people.
The first minister says she regrets that and apologises to any patient not seen by the health services as quickly as possible.
However, she refutes Mr Leonard's characterisation of the issue and again points to investment and increases in the workforce.
On rejected referrals, she points to the audit of this of evidence the government is acting and notes the first recommendations were published this week.