Image source, LAURA DODSWORTH

A bill to criminalise psychological domestic abuse was passed in February, with some campaigners saying it "could change Scotland forever".

The Domestic Abuse Act, external, which has wide backing, creates a specific offence of "abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner".

This includes psychological abuse such as coercive and controlling behaviour as well as violence.

Critics claimed it could be difficult to gather sufficient evidence.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Bob Doris asks how the Scottish government supports victims of domestic violence in the Maryhill and Springburn constituency.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie points to new legislation and funding for frontline services for survivors of domestic abuse.

We are also working to improve the response of justice services and decrease court waiting times, she adds.

In 2019, the Domestic Abuse Act will commence which makes domestic abuse a specific offence, Ms McKelvie says.

Mr Doris asks about making it easier for women to stay in their own homes rather than forcing them to flee.

The minister highlights a consultation going forward on the use of exclusion orders to prevent abusers from contacting victims.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says it will be a generation before Scotland has a fully accessible rail network, pointing to four stations in Fife which are not.

He asks about funding to accelerate making more stations accessible.

Mr Wheelhouse confirms he will discuss this further with government colleagues to try to identify funding others.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing asks the Scottish government what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding operations on the Fife Circle.

"My constituents are absolutely fed up with ScotRail," says Ms Ewing.

They have to put up with the "total farce" of not knowing if the train will stop at ScotRail at Cardenden,.

Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse says the government appreciates how frustrating this is for passengers.

Image source, bbc

Mr Wheelhouse points out the cabinet secretary is meeting with ScotRail and Network Rail to push for improvements.

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart critcises the "crush hour" on the Fife Circle and calls for urgent action.

Mr Wheelhouse insists work is ongoing to improve resilience across Scotland.

Image source, BBC/PA

After general questions, we will bring you extensive coverage for first minister's questions at noon.

Then MSPs will take part in a motion of remembrance for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the WWI armistice.

After lunch, Labour MSP Monica Lennon leads a debate on 'South Lanarkshire care homes under threat'.

Then there will be a ministerial statement on improving the education experience of LGBTI young people.

The stage 3 debate on the Prescription (Scotland) Bill will take us up to 5pm.

At decision time, MSPs will also vote on whether to sanction Tory MSP Annie Wells with a week-long exclusion from parliament.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine suggests putting on the news programme at 9pm is a "big mistake".

Is there any possibility that could change, she asks.

"No," replies Mackinnon.

She points to research indicating some people will value a 9pm programme, particularly parents with young children and women.

That is not to say it will not ever move after review but there is not possibility of it moving at this stage, she says.

And on that note, the session draws to a close.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks about the Disclosure documentary, 'Dark Side of Dairy'.

He says it did not explain the rigorous inspection of the transport of calves.

Mr Scott adds that the Scottish government inspects and monitors the system which was not explained and it used footage from another part of the world and implied it was Scotland.

BBC Scotland Director Donalda Mackinnon says: "I have defended, quite robustly, the journalism of the programme."

Ms Mackinnon says a formal complaint has been registered and says she would rather say no more until the complaint process is completed.

Disclosure: The Dark Side of Dairy was broadcast on BBC One Scotland on 10 September and is available on the BBC iplayer

On 25 October 2018, Ofcom published its first Annual Report on the BBC, covering April 2017 to March 2018.

The report concluded that: “While people in Scotland watch lots of BBC programmes, there is still demand for greater representation.

"Viewers in Scotland watch 12% more broadcast TV each day than the UK average, and 13% more BBC TV. However, some were particularly dissatisfied with the BBC’s performance in representation and portrayal, and this was echoed in the results of our quantitative survey, which were significantly lower in Scotland than in England and the UK overall.

Image source, bbc

"Fifty-two percent of people in Scotland had a favourable overall impression of the BBC, compared to 64% of all UK adults.

"Only 39% of people in Scotland thought that the BBC broadcasts a good range of programmes and content that represents where they live, against 50% of all UK adults. Some participants in our Scotland focus groups expressed a desire for content depicting life in the nation to be shown outside of BBC Scotland programming.”

Ofcom has written to the BBC setting out the four issues and will discuss with it how it plans to address them. Where the BBC does not make sufficient progress, Ofcom will take further action.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson points to an Ofcom report found people in Scotland were more likely to watch BBC programming but less likely to have a favourable view of the BBC than others in the UK.

BBC Scotland director Donalda Mackinnon says she hopes the new channel will go a long way to address this.

We have an opportunity now to address diversity, including geographic and cultural diversity, she adds.

Last month the BBC announced six new programmes for its BBC Scotland channel launching in February next year. Comedy, drama, documentaries and a game show will be part of the offering.

Image source, bbc

Here's the six new programmes:

1. The People's News
2. Darren McGarvey
3. Last Breath
4. Meet Jamie Genevieve
5. Test Drive
6. Modern Scotland Documentary Strand

Click here for more detail!

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP says: "What we don't want is that this becomes Dave."

"We don't want to be watching the Singing Kettle 24 hours a day, good though it is."

This will not be repeat channel it will be an originated channel says Mr Morrison.

Ms Mackinnon insists there will be a "new and possibly risky stuff", aimed at young people.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine says there is not enough money going into this channel.

Mr Morrison insists there will be original high end drama on this channel.

Click here for five reasons the Kettle is still Singing after 30 years.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says the new channel is expected to air 50% of archived and repeated programmes, while a further hour a day will be for the news programme.

That means we are paying £32m for one hour of new production, he says.

Steve Morrison disagrees, saying BBC Scotland is commissioning more than 50% of original hours of programming.

We'll have to see how the money and programmes bed down, he adds, but he explains that 50% is the minimum for original programmes as set out in the contract.

Image source, JEFF J MITCHELL

In June the media regulator Ofcom has given final approval to BBC plans, external for a dedicated Scotland TV channel which would lead to the creation of 140 new jobs.

It will have an annual budget of £32m and will start broadcasting next year.

When the BBC announced its channel plans 17-months-ago it said 80 journalism jobs would be created for an hour long daily news programme.

The Director of BBC Scotland Donalda MacKinnon said on Tuesday that there would be 60 further jobs in technology.

That announcement came as Ofcom gave the green light following months of consultation. It gave provisional approval in April this year.

As well as a news offering at nine each weekday night, the channel will have;

• new programmes that reflect Scottish life, including the opportunity to premiere some new comedy and drama
• repeats and archive programmes - about 50% of shows on the channel will be repeat material
• core broadcast hours every day from 19:00 until midnight

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Steve Morrison says: "Launching a channel is very, very difficult."

However the progress so far suggests the production community has responded very well, he says.

The member for Scotland on the BBC board says: "I have great hopes for it."

Donalda Mackinnon of BBC Scotland says investment in BBC Alba has been increasing.

We are working very hard to ensure that new investment in BBC Scotland also feeds into BBC Alba, with about 100 hours of original content expected, she adds.

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing says 100 hours over the year is just four days.

Ms Mackinnon points to more children's programmes, about 60 hours, planned for the next year.

We are working with about 75 different companies which will create jobs over and above the 270 jobs within the BBC.

BBC Alba commissions the majority of its output from independent companies.

Director-General Anne Bulford confirms 12 women in BBC Scotland have requested that their pay be looked at through the informal resolution process.

Four women have asked us to move on to the more formal grievance stage, she adds.

BBC Scotland director Donalda Mackinnon says a piece of work on career progression resulted in 35 recommendations.

Usually problems were around women going on maternity leave or women not applying for senior positions, she explains.

We are now ensuring leadership and management training is offered as every level, and also making sure flexible working is the default position across the BBC, Ms Mackinnon adds.

Responding to concerns that quality will suffer as part of attempts to reduce the gender gap, the BBC Scotland director insists "we are sourcing excellent women" who will be brilliant.