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Labour MSP Mary Fee says the current childcare system is disjointed and inflexible and is in urgent need of reform.

Ms Fee argues the mix of childcare provision is required to reach the target of 1,140 hours.

The Labour MSP tells the chamber her party will back the Tory motion.

She says the minister was unable to answer the question of how many people are working today to provide the childcare expansion.

Chiildren and Young People Minister Maree Todd replies that there are 34,500 staff working in early learning and childcare across Scotland, 25,500 working providing funded places.

The minister says COSLA is behind a provider-neutral approach but she recognises more needs to be done to ensure more local authorities implement this.

She accepts there are pockets of troubling partnership relationships but argues that on the whole a more positive position has been taken.

We will address various concerns raised in the support package which will be delivered before Christmas, Ms Todd adds.

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Children and Young People Minister Maree Todd insists the expansion of childcare is a "truly transformative programme".

Tory MSP Liz Smith accepts the aims and ambitions of the government but there is one sector here that feels very disadvantaged and that problem must be addressed.

There must be a fully engaged private sector, she adds.

The government agrees the private sector will be absolutely crucial in ensuring this expansion, insists Ms Todd.

Ms Harris urges the minister to write to all local authorities to provide clarity on the use of capital funding.

Children and Young People Minister Maree Todd agrees to do so but highlights some issues around state aid.

The minister notes Angus Council has found a way around that which she is happy to share with other councils.

Ms Harris expresses concern about a lack of emphasis on the need for partnership working with childcare providers.

Council childcare is often not flexible enough for parents so they have to turn to private providers, she explains.

But without partnership work or support, these businesses may be forced to close, she warns.

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A survey of more than 200 private nurseries has found that less than a third are likely to offer the Scottish government's recommended free hours.

Ministers have pledged to increase the number of paid-for hours for three and four-year-olds from 600 to 1,140 hours a year by 2020.

But the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said the policy was "at risk" because of a lack of funding.

The Scottish government said nearly £1bn was being put into the policy.

Read more here.

Tory MSP Alison Harris asks how the expansion of childcare will be achieved and warns the government's 2020 target will not be met.

Underfunding is a significant barrier to doing so, elucidates Ms Harris, adding Audit Scotland warned of a £160m black hole, each year, in the policy's funding.

Ms Harris argues the lack of inclusion of the private sector is key, but they are being swept aside.

There is no consistency in the roll-out of the policy across local authorities, she says.

Ms Harris adds private providers are receiving varying rates across Scotland, a total lack of consistency.

The Tory MSP says capital funding is supposed to be available to all childcare providers, however local authorities are almost exclusively giving funding to their own nurseries.

Here is Ms Harris' motion, which calls for more partnership working between state and private sector providers of childcare.

It points to research indicating just a third of private nurseries are in a position to expand place numbers, attributing this to a lack of engagement.

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The Scottish Conservatives will now lead a debate on the early years.

CalMac's boss apologised for disruption to ferry services in the first half of 2018 at a meeting of the rural economy committee in May.

Robbie Drummond told MSPs: "I would like to sincerely apologise to all our customers for the inconvenience that's been cause caused.

"We care deeply about our communities and we do understand the economic impact on island residents and businesses, and we are very sorry for the recent disruption."

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says the disruption caused by cancellations can be partially alleviated by having other vessels available.

There is no quick fix for our ageing ferry fleet, he adds.

The significant risk of mechanical failure in the current fleet is highlighted.

We need a long-term plan, a programme of investment, and clear targets for improvement the Lib Dem argues.

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Green MSP John Finnie says there is a lack of resilience in the ferry service and a lack of awareness of the problem.

Mr Finnie says we need to understand that increased funding is important and he says the Green Party would not have spent so much money on roads to provide for this.

The Green MSP criticises the model of the ferry service to the Western Isles, where MV Loch Seaforth has been leased by CalMac from Lloyds bank.

This will cost the taxpayer £67m by 2022 at which point the bank will still own the vessel, he explains.

The Green MSP calls for a ferry service exclusively for public benefit not for proft.

Mr Smyth says the approach to ferries has to be better thought through and required more forward planning.

He also calls for a national shipbuilding strategy, which he says will create jobs as well as support ferry services.

"There has been a slowness of government to intervene."

The Labour MSP expresses disappointment that the Northern Isles ferry service is not being taken into public ownership.

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Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the summer of discontent with ferries has wreaked havoc on our island communities.

Mr Smyth argues the ageing fleet has led to more breakdowns and higher maintenance costs.

He tells the chamber that the introduction of RET has increased the use of ferries.

The Labour MSP calls for RET to be introduced in the Northern Isles but calls for it to be accompanied by an increase in capacity.

The budget must include funds to increase capacity to meet demand on the ferries, he insists.