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Scottish Labour education spokesperson Iain Gray says his party has a problem with league tables and high stakes testing.

The Labour MSP says his party's problem now is with the government's standardised tests.

The education secretary intervenes to insist data must be there to help improve the outcomes for children.

Mr Gray argues Mr Swinney saying the tests were not tests was farcical, when his department then said they were tests.

Whether or not the tests are mandatory is "a riddle not an answer" and yesterday's "desperation" of putting MSPs and journalists through tests for five year olds, told us nothing, insists Mr Gray.

Mr Swinney refers to comments made by Liz Smith in August, in which he says she said her party has never supported P1 assessments.

This demonstrates the "deceit at the heat of the Conservative motion", he says.

The education secretary concludes by accusing the Conservatives of "playing politics" with education.

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Mr Swinney says the assessments are essential as they are aligned to the Curriculum for Excellence and they provide consistency and compatability across Scotland.

This will ensure the teaching profession is working to the same standard across the country, he adds.

He explains the assessments are in keeping with the government's aims of closing the attainment gap and raising the standards.

The minister points out the assessment takes less than one hour in the school year and should be part of the child's normal class work and should not feel different to other tasks.

Mr Swinney acknowledges the longstanding hostility of the Greens and Lib Dems on this issue.

He goes on: "I am however today appalled at the Conservative Party."

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political reporter

The BBC's Philip Sim took some time yesterday to undertake a P1 assessment himself. Here is what he thought...........

The nation-wide tests were introduced last year, with ministers saying they provide important data about pupil performance and help teachers identify areas where pupils might need help early in their education.

Opposition parties have voiced a range of concerns about the assessments, citing campaigns by parents' and teaching groups, and it is expected they will pass a motion calling for them to be scrapped.

The assessments are entirely computer-based, and can be done on a laptop, tablet or desktop computer.

They are introduced by a cartoon character named Alison, who guides pupils through the test. Depending on the school, they could also have a teacher or a P7 "buddy" on hand to help too.

The introduction takes pupils step-by-step through how to play audio recordings of the questions and answers - so they can listen instead of read - how to drag icons around the screen and how to navigate on to the next question.

Read more here.

Mr Swinney says assessment is for learning and allows teachers to plan the next phase.

The professional judgement of teachers is at the heart of the framework for the assessments and there is an assistance tool for this purpose, he adds.

The education secretary says there is "nothing new" about P1 assessments and no party has objected in the past.

It is vital to get as much information as possible, as early as possible, on children's achievement he argues.

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks what evidence does the Scottish government have that P1 tests help children.

Mr Swinney says there is not enough information and data on progress, which is what these assessments provide.

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Education Secretary John Swinney stresses the importance of dispassionate expert opinion in this debate.

Mr Swinney insists he does not believe we have had the marshalling of this opinion in the debate so far.

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell cites comments from Professor Jim Scott that there has been no evidence brought forward to support these assessments.

The OECD said there was not enough information about learning outcomes and progress, replies Mr Swinney, adding that is why the assessments were introduced.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Ms Smith goes on to highlight comments from a primary teacher who said she did not understand how these tests will be used.

Mr Swinney insists there is a need to monitor the assessments, not halt them.

Ms Smith disagrees, saying there should be a halt and further discussion on how to progress P1 pupils.

We need to reconsider the whole approach to evaluating pupil progress at primary one, she concludes.

Ms Smith talks about the Kindergarten Model where children don't start formal education until the age of seven.

The Tory MSP explains that in her own teacher training years there were concerns about early testing and the meaningfulness of the data garnered.

She insists the majority of teachers she spoke to said their specialist training allowed them to pick up issues.

Ms Smith argues it is important to recognise the current concerns about the standardised tests are largely focused on P1.

Ms Smith says her party are committed to rigorous, standardised tests in P4, P7 and S3 as a "crucial part of improving education attainment" and measuring progress.

We support the SNP's arguments about why they are important in both education and accountability terms, she tells the chamber.

Turning to her party's manifesto in 2016 which supported P1 tests, Ms Smith argues that in to two years since her parties has expressed "misgivings" about them.

Education Secretary John Swinney insists the Conservatives "are deceiving us on this issue".

The Tory MSP accepts her party made a mistake on P1 tests before.

However, she says Mr Swinney's intervention is "a bit rich" on the topic after the Scottish government shelving the education reform bill despite it appearing in two programme for governments.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government is facing defeat over national assessments for P1 pupils, with opposition parties uniting to demand they be scrapped.

The assessments were introduced across Scotland last year, but some teachers and parents have criticised them.

Opposition parties say they are not in line with play-based early learning and could create league tables of schools.

Ministers insist they are not high-stakes tests, but help schools assess where pupils need help at an early age.

Read more.

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Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Liz Smith says this debate is of crucial educational importance.

Ms Smith welcomes the comments from Mr Swinney when he said he wanted a fact based debate.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford intervenes saying 29 councils already carry out P1 assessments and he asks if Ms Smith will go fo "cheap political point scoring".

Ms Smith replies that she is very aware of what councils are saying and what teachers are saying too.

Image source, PA

The Tories will now lead a debate calling for the scrapping of P1 assessments.

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell asks when the government last met the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

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A quarter of Scotland's female prison population is on remand, according to research by Holyrood's Justice Committee.

The study also found less than a third (30%) go on to receive custodial sentences.

It warned time spent on remand can result in disruption to benefits, housing, employment and healthcare.

And the report concluded being on remand is largely unproductive with access to services limited.

Read more here.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham says there has been a reduction in antisocial behaviour and praises the Cashback for Communities prorgramme.

Mr Halcro Johnson insists community warden numbers have fallen.

The minister says she will look into this issue.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to reduce the number of women being placed on remand.

Jamie Halcro Johnston asks the Scottish Ggovernment what action it is taking in response to the reported increase in incidents of antisocial behaviour.