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Glasgow School of Art chairwoman Muriel Gray says there was no "milling around" on a construction site of such importance, in response to a question from SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing.

Liz Davidson explains there were no visits in the week of the recent GSA fire.

She says there were visits before that to "demystify the constructon process", where it was safe to do and there was a very strict protocol.

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Glasgow's Mackintosh building will definitely be rebuilt, according to Muriel Gray, chairwoman of the Glasgow School of Art's board.

The building was gutted by fire in June, following another blaze in 2014.

The future of the GSA has faced speculation that it could be demolished or turned into a museum.

But Ms Gray, a former student at the school, told BBC Scotland it would be rebuilt as a working art school, saying that was "non-negotiable".

Read more.

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SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson asks what the insurance payment for the items lost in the 2014 fire was.

Glasgow School of Art chairwoman Muriel Gray explains there were two seperate insurance policies, one for the buiding and one for the "priceless objects".

Ms Gray says there is nothing to hide and all of that is in the public domain.

Mr Gibson replies some people can't access this information.

Image source, GSA

Rebuilding work at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) "remains on schedule "four months after it was gutted by a fire, its director has said.

Work to stabilise the west gable of the Mackintosh Building is due to be completed by 14 October.

More than 450 tonnes of steel has also been used to brace the east gable and north facade during repairs to those parts of the building.

Meanwhile, the iconic door plates from the main entrance have been recovered.

Read more.

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Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says the fire supression system should have been the first thing to be put in after the 2014 fire.

Liz Davidson OBE, senior project manager, Mackintosh Building restoration, Glasgow School of Art, replies the commissioning of the suppression system would have been the first thing put on.

Ms Davidson explains it was probably 60% completed as it had to follow the construction phase.

Glasgow's world-renowned School of Art has been gutted by another huge blaze, four years after part of the building was destroyed by fire.

Flames ripped through the celebrated Mackintosh building after it caught fire at about 23:20 on Friday.

The blaze spread to nearby buildings, including the Campus nightclub and O2 ABC music venue, which suffered "extensive damage".

The renovated Mackintosh library had been due to reopen next year.

It was destroyed inthe blaze that ripped through the building in May 2014. It was being restored in a project estimated to cost up to £35m.

Read more.

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Glasgow School of Art chairwoman Muriel Gray explains permission to put in a normal standared sprinkler system was refused by Historic Environment Scotland.

Ms McAlpine replies the sprinklers were ruled out because of aesthetics before permission was saught.

Liz Davidson says it was a fully compliant building by the time of the first fire and adds it wasn't a building that was inherently dangerous.

Glasgow School of Art chairwoman Muriel Gray denies they ruled out putting in sprinklers in the school building, but accepts the decision to put them in came after the Grenfell fire.

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Committee convener Joan McAlpine says MSPs have heard the ventilation ducts in the building were known for 20 years to be a serious hazard and there was a serious risk of fire spreading for 20 years.

Ms McAlpine says a decision was made not to fire stop the voids and ducts and asks if that was due to conservation reasons.

Liz Davidson OBE, senior project manager, Mackintosh Building restoration, Glasgow School of Art replies there was no instruction to not stop voids.

There are over 130 ducts and more voids and the instruction was that they would be stopped or dampened, she explains.

Ms Davidson says you can't stop every void and the work had not been completed.

Ms McAlpine asks why the fire suppresion system had not been put in place.

The GSA spokesperson tells the committee the cause of the fire is not known and the voids may not have been involved.

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The board of Glasgow School of Art has hit back at claims it failed to look after the A-listed Mackintosh building.

A submission to a parliamentary inquiry strongly defended its record following two devastating fires in four years.

In documents released ahead of an evidence session in parliament on Thursday, bosses denied claims of "systemic management failure".

They said the school was "robust and well-managed" and fit and able to oversee repair of the iconic building.

Read more.

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Glasgow School of Art chairwoman Muriel Gray says thes are some of the most difficult days in the school's history.

Ms Gray says the cause of the second fire is not known and speculation is not helpful.

She adds the tragedy is of course that just before the fire the contactor was doing a beautiful job.

The GSA chairwoman says there is a clear commitment to restore the Mackintosh building.

Image source, Getty images

The Culture Committee will take evidence from:

• Muriel Gray, Glasgow School of Art chairwoman of the board of governers
• Prof. Irene McAra-McWilliam OBE, deputy director (Innovation), Glasgow School of Art
• Liz Davidson OBE, senior project manager, Mackintosh Building restoration, Glasgow School of Art

Read more here., external

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Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live!

Glasgow art school will be in the spotlight again on Thursday morning, as chair of the GSA board Muriel Gray appears before the culture committee.

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Elsewhere committee wise, the social security committee considers the young carer grant, taking evidence from Lauren Baigrie who cares for her mum.

In the afternoon, we'll bring you extensive coverage first minister's questions to be followed by a member's debate marking the Day of the Imprisoned Writer led by SNP MSP Ruth Maguire.

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The remainder of the afternoon will be spent debating physical activity, diet and healthy weight.