SNP MSP Bob Doris asks how proposals in the goernment's Transport Bill aim to support the improved planning and delivery of socially-desirable bus routes.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says the contract for the construction of the Maybole bypass is expected to be awarded by the end of the year.

This will improve journey times along the A77, he adds.

In addition, a study of transport on the Borders which recommended a range of action is being considered, he says.

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell seeks an update on the A76 reopening and investment in the A75.

Mr Matheson says the Scottish government will continue to make investments and points to the south west Scotland transport study opened today which will shape the strategic approach to road improvements.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth insists a larger amount of investment in these roads is required than has been given in recent years.

Again Mr Matheson says the south west Scotland transport study will guide where investments are needed.

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine asks what action the government has to improve the trunk road network in the South Scotland region.

Image source, bbc

Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse highlights 16,200 premises in the Stirling area have access to broadband as a result of the programme.

Mr Wheelhouse says the Scottish government has responded to the failure of the UK government and has intervened.

Image source, Thinkstock

In April we reported that Edinburgh and Stirling were to be the next cities for installation of ultrafast broadband cabling into customers' homes and businesses.

CityFibre announced the Scottish cities would follow Aberdeen in getting one gigabit per second potential speeds, along with Coventry and Huddersfield.

Those that were already set for the roll-out - in a tie-up with Vodafone - are Aberdeen, Peterborough and Milton Keynes.

CityFibre said it aimed to make digital inadequacy "a thing of the past".

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford ask what percentage of households in the Stirling constituency have faster broadband connectivity.

Ms Baker says Levenmouth is the largest conurbation in Scotland without a rail line and it has below average car ownership.

She seeks a meeting with the cabinet secretary to discuss the project.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says a considerable amount of work has been taken forward on the issue.

He agrees to a meeting with the member and other stakeholders.

SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth invites the cabinet secretary to come to Leven to see the benefits of the rail link.

Mr Matheson accepts the invitation.

Labour MSP Claire Baker asks the Scottish government what recent discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding the Levenmouth rail project.

Image source, Thinkstock/PA

All eyes will be on the chamber this afternoon as the Tories bring a motion calling for ministers to "halt the tests in P1", while the government insists "assessments are a key tool" for identifying the needs of the children

Ahead of this, portfolio questions focuses on transport, infrastructure and connectivity, and justice ministers and law officers.

The evening member's debate will celebrate 10 years of BBC Alba.

Join us for extensive coverage and analysis.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell asks if there has not been enough road testing of initiatives.

Prof Scott argues any major Scottish initiative takes ten to 15 years to bed in.

He points out rushing something ends up with it not working.

The professor says it would have been very helpful to have central national modelling of the CfE.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont seeks a view on standardised assessments and how this sits with the curriculum for excellence.

Dr Alan Britton says he is not seeing evidence of consultation and consensus-building on this policy decision.

Prof Jim Scotts explains academics can only look at an initiative and evidence to suggest it would be beneficial, but we have not seen sufficient evidence that this is the case.

Join us for the Scottish Conservative-led debate this afternoon which is calling for assessments at P1 to be scrapped.

SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth says in certain high schools the pupils dictate the curriculum through their choice.

Ms Gilruth highlights the issue of the mental health of children facing exams and asks whether this could be staggered.

Dr Janet Brown points out assessments can be done at any time of the year and insists it is a flexible environment.

Mr Greer asks about the impact on pupil's expectation of themselves.

Dr Brown from the SQA highlights a steep increase in workload from S4 onwards.

Dr Burton suggests getting in touch with young people's organisations but he says there is very limited research.

Dr Brown says the SQA has been working with Young Scot on young people's views around assessment, which suggests they want more fluid assessment.

This piece of work will be published in October, she confirms.

Image source, Getty images

Concerns over the choice of subjects available in some secondary schools came to the fore at First Ministers Questions in May.

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson highlighted how some youngsters get the chance to do just six qualifications in S4 while others do more.

The situation varies from school to school and from council to council.

But does the number of qualifications a youngster obtains in S4 really matter?

In the old days, it was simple.

• Teacher shortage blamed for limited subject range
• Read more here.

Prof Scott suggests it should be mandatory for headteachers to speak to parents about the curriculum on offer.

Research indicates this does not happen everywhere, he explains.

Green MSP Ross Greer asks about recent events which have caused more confusion for headteachers.

Prof Scott points to the removal of unit assessments, with teachers being unsure about how this effects them and their students.

There is a problem with how we are "piling initiatives on initiatives", he warns.

I can show you evidence of abandoned initiatives, truncated initiatives, things-that-didn't-work-out-as-planned initiatives, which all have an impact on children.

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell raises the issue of the number of young people have dropped out of the system.

Prof Scott argues there needs to be more work done here.

The Dundee University academic tells the committee: "The ones who are hardest to track are the ones who are least able to survive the environment they find themselves in."

"I am a little bit ashamed that I have turned up without an answer to that question, because I think equity is the most important thing we do."

I've found no teacher or headteacher who disagrees with the core principles guiding the curriculum for excellence, Prof Scott tells the committee.

The documentation does not just cover school choices but also the wider experiences of young people, he states.

There is not a common consensus in Scotland about what CfE consists of and local authorities have interpreted it differently, he states.

Prof Scott suggests a curriculum self-help book should be provided nationally, pointing to informal examples.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott suggests subject choice reduction starts to become a self-fulfilling prophesy because it will lead to fewer teachers being employed and therefore fewer courses being on offer.

Prof Jim Scott agrees this may be the case.

Mr Scott asks how the narrowing of education can be fixed and Prof Scott calls for a mid-point upgrade.

Prof Scott says research into education has not be utilised particularly well.