Image source, PA

ScotRail's performance level is at its lowest since the franchise began, according to new figures.

They showed 81.8% of services arrived within five minutes of scheduled time between 16 September and 13 October.

ScotRail's moving annual average for punctuality also hit a franchise low of 87.5% - below the agreed breach level of 88.22%.

ScotRail said there had been "significant disruption" as a result of Storm Ali in September.

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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks about action the Scottish Government is taking in light of ScotRail's performance falling to its lowest level since the current franchise began.

The first minister says she wants to protect the existing exemption for the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Stewart warns that killing of the exemption would damage businesses and calls for it to be preserved.

Ms Sturgeon says the actions the Scottish government have taken demonstrate the commitment to the exemption.

Image source, Getty Images

Plans to replace air passenger duty with a discounted alternative have been disrupted by legal issues.

The Scottish government wants to replace Air Passenger Duty (APD) with a new devolved Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland.

However, it said plans to continue exempting journeys from airports in the Highlands and Islands required EU approval under state aid rules.

Labour MSP David Stewart queries recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with the European Commission regarding the Highlands and Islands exemption from the Air Departure Tax.

Ms Sturgeon says every student should have access to such support and points to a commitment to provide more counselors at universities and colleges.

We will continue to work closely with these sectors to ensure an integrated, wrap-around approach to mental health and well-being, she says.

Ms Hamilton asks about splitting mental health funding across colleges and university fairly, and when will the counselors be provided.

The first minister says the increasing numbers of people coming forward for support is is some ways welcome as it signals a reduction in stigma.

As well as investing more, we need to reconfigure the way mental health services are delivered, she states.

The number of university students in Scotland seeking support for mental health issues has increased by two-thirds over five years, analysis shows.

The BBC asked universities across Scotland for the numbers of students seeking some form of support.

It found more than 11,700 students asked for help in 2016-17 compared with about 7,000 in 2012-13.

The 68% increased among students in Scotland was higher than the 53% total for the UK over the same period.

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Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton asks about action to ensure that there is mental health support for college and university students.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says the author of the article which attacked GMB official Rhea Wolfson has been suspended and calls for both elected councillors who spread such hateful material to face the same sanction.

The first minister says the author of the blog was suspended earlier this week.

Ms Sturgeon points out the councillor has written to the young woman accepting he made an error of judgement.

When people do get things wrong, it is some times important we give them a chance to learn she adds.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks if the first minister agrees that the lesson of the Holocaust is that we must never look the other way over anti-Semitism.

Mr Tomkins says this means action is require.

The first minister agrees and recommends people try to visit Auschwitz as it is important to remember all of those who suffered there.

The SNP has suspended a pro-independence blogger after he was accused of writing an anti-Semitic post about a Jewish union official.

The post on the Grouse Beater blog attacked GMB official Rhea Wolfson over her role in the Glasgow City Council equal pay dispute.

It refers to Hitler "accusing 'the Jew' of gradually assuming leadership of the trade union movement".

Gareth Wardell, who runs the blog, denies the post is anti-Semitic.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people not to stand by "in the face of hate", while on a visit to the former Auschwitz concentration camp.

The first minister joined 200 students from schools across Scotland for the trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau, organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.

During World War Two, one million Jews were murdered at the Nazi concentration and death camp.

Six million Jewish men, women and children were killed in the Holocaust.

While visiting the former Nazi concentration camp in Poland, Ms Sturgeon said: "What happened here (at Auschwitz-Birkenau) was one of the darkest periods in human history and it's really important that we remember all those who suffered and were murdered but it is equally important that we don't just see this as a history lesson."

Read more here.

The first minister says there is "no place in Scotland" for antisemitism or any form of racism.

She offers her condolences to those impacted by the recent attack on the Pittsburgh synagogue.

We are committed to tackling hate crime and prejudice, she insists.

Mr Mason says we need to be careful about the tone we use.

Ms Sturgeon replies: "Words do matter."

It's important that we acknowledge the impact language we use can have, she adds.

SNP MSP John Mason seeks a response to the reported rise in antisemitism.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the consultation on the Protection of Wild Animals Act ended in January and asks when the Scottish government response will be given, citing the start of the fox hunting season this Saturday.

The first minister replies the government's response is due imminently and she adds she believes it has done enough on this issue.

Image source, Getty Imagea

The government has been accused of presiding over a "culture of indifference" about the hardship caused by universal credit.

A committee of MPs said "denial and defensiveness" by the Department for Work and Pensions was a significant risk to the flagship welfare reform.

Universal credit is leading to increased debt, rent arrears and food bank use, the MPs said.

The DWP said it would consider the report and had already made changes.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee report comes after it was revealed the rollout of universal credit would be delayed again, and with the government under growing pressure to put more money into the system.

• What is universal credit - and what's the problem?
• People with good jobs 'going hungry'
• Will benefit changes affect you?
• Major: Universal credit like 80s poll tax

SNP MSP Bill Kidd says the UK Budget was a "missed opportunity" to end the roll-out of Universal Credit.

The first minister agrees, saying the announcements made relating to the benefit did not go far enough.

The changes to income tax thresholds do not offset the impact of the benefits freeze, she adds.

Mr Harvie says he believes the Scottish government wants to get this right and calls for a rejection of the UK government's "hostile environment".

The Scottish Green Party co-convener calls for an urgent timetable for emergency accommodation as "the nights grow colder".

He asks for a clear commitment that the Scottish government will take the action to prevent this humanitarian crisis on our doorstep

Ms Sturgeon replies yes she will give that and points out all the recommendations of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Task Force have been accepted.

People seeking asylum should never be seen as a burden says the first minister.

She calls on the UK government to change the rules that are causing this misery.