Summary

  • MSPs take evidence from a mother whose ten-year-old son died from cardiac arrest and who is calling for better access to defibrillators

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed during first minister's questions

  • A Tory MSP leads a debate on arthritis and access to work

  • A statement on energy efficiency is made

  • The economy committee leads a debate on economic performance and data

  1. Background: Arthritis creating 'epidemic of isolation'published at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Knee strapImage source, Thinkstock

    Arthritis is creating an "epidemic of isolation", a new report has warned.

    A survey conducted by Versus Arthritis found three quarters of people with the condition said it had compromised their family and social lives.

    In addition, almost a third admitted that friendships and relationships had been left strained because of it.

    Versus Arthritis has called for public spaces to be designed more inclusively to prevent people feeling "disconnected".

    One in six people in the UK have arthritis, a condition which causes pain and inflammation in joints.

    Read the Defying Arthritis at Every Age report., external

  2. Tory MSP: I have endured the unpredictability of rheumatoid arthritispublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton

    Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton tells the chamber she has rheumatoid arthritis herself and that she has "endured the unpredictability of this chronic disease" since 2007.

    Before treatment, my joints were so swollen that I could not drive or even hold a pen she says.

    This led her to having to give up work, as do many people who have arthritis Ms Hamilton states.

    She urges the Scottish government to join with the UK government to do more to support those living with these conditions.

    Access to Work is designed to support those with disabilities or health conditions but not many people with arthritis know about it, she adds.

  3. Background: Over half of arthritis sufferers unaware of access to work schemepublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    XrayImage source, SPL

    Over half of arthritis sufferers have never heard of a scheme designed to support them in the workplace.

    The access to work scheme was set up by the UK government to assist people with a disability or health condition, to ensure they can stay in work.

    A study involving 1,500 people by Versus Arthritis - formerly Arthritis Research UK - found 59% of people had not heard of it while a further 10% knew of it but did not know what it did.

    Grants awarded by the scheme can be used for specialist equipment, support workers, transport and mental health support services.

    However, the survey found that 35% of people with arthritis has been forced to reduce their working hours, while 19% had given up work entirely or taken early retirement.

  4. Member's debate: Arthritis and Access to Workpublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Tory MSP Rachael HamiltonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton

    Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton is leading a debate on an Arthritis Research UK Survey on Access to Work.

    MotionImage source, Scottish parliament
  5. Postpublished at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

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  6. Meanwhile: Brexit: Draft agreement on future relationship right for UK, says Maypublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Theresa MayImage source, bbc

    Theresa May has hailed the EU draft agreement on post-Brexit relations as "right for the whole of the UK," in a brief statement in Downing Street.

    The political declaration - outlining how trade, security and other issues will work - has been "agreed in principle", the European Council says.

    London and Brussels have already agreed the draft terms of the UK's exit from the EU on 29 March 2019.

    The prime minister will make a statement to MPs at 15:00 GMT.

  7. Postpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

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  8. FMQs recap: Flu vaccines, school funding, teacher pay and nurse stabbingpublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

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  9. Point of order raised about Faslane incidentspublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Labour MSP Jackie Baillie raises a point of order about the Faslane incidents, stating that since 2007 safety has improved substantially.

    Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says Ms Baillie has not made a point of order as a raucous response comes from the SNP benches.

  10. Backgound: Johnston Press: Publisher of i paper and Scotsman bought outpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    ScotsmanImage source, bbc

    The future of newspapers previously owned by Johnston Press has been secured after they were acquired by JPIMedia, a spokesman said.

    The newly-formed company bought out Johnston Press, publisher of the i, The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, following the court appointment of administrators earlier on Saturday.

    Johnston Press said it meant employees would keep their jobs.

    The newspaper group put itself up for sale last month.

    Johnston Press was one of the largest local and regional newspaper organisations in the UK, but had debts of £220m which were due for repayment in June next year.

    i paperImage source, bbc
    • Edinburgh-based Johnston Press is being put into administration, and its assets transferred to bondholders
    • The new owners want to show commitment to staff, suppliers and customers, with a cut in debt and £35m extra to keep more than 200 titles going. That commitment does not extend to the pension fund
    • Johnston's biggest shareholder plans legal moves to unwind the administration

    Click here for analysis from Business/Economy Editor Douglas Fraser.

  11. Concerns raised about Johnson Press workforce pensionspublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    The first minister replies that it is important to have a vibrant newspaper industry which is why she was sad to hear Johnston Press had gone into administration.

    Ms Sturgeon says her thoughts are with the Johnston Press workers.

    Mr Cole-Hamilton raises concerns about the pensions of the workforce, alleging the new company is rinsing the pension fund.

    The first minister says she hopes to see the Scotsman and other titles go from strength to strength.

    She shares the concerns about the pensions, but points out this is a reserved matter.

  12. Question on newspaper industry's futurepublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks how the Scottish government is promoting a vibrant newspaper industry.

  13. Background: Rise in homelessness applications in Scotland reverses nine-year trendpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Rough sleeperImage source, Getty Images

    The number of applications for homelessness status in Scotland has gone up for the first time nine years, according to official figures.

    Applications to local authorities rose by 1% to 34,972 between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, the Scottish government said.

    It follows an eight-year decline from a peak of 57,672 in 2008-2009.

    The Scottish government said it was committed to ending homelessness and rough sleeping for good.

    The annual figures also show, external that during the same period, the number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen at the same rate.

    An extra 557 children are living in temporary accommodation compared to last year, the fourth consecutive annual increase.

  14. FM: People sleeping on our streets is not acceptablepublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    The first minister says it is vital to provide support to help people on the streets to keep safe.

    She points to £600,000 available for outreach activities for this financial year for frontline services.

    Ms McNeill says rough sleeping is a hallmark of a failed housing policy and calls for the same level of funding every year until the problem is eradicated.

    She also says there must be a more rapid response to new rough sleepers.

    The rapid response approach is at the heart of everything we aim to do on rough sleeping, responds the first minister.

    Ms Sturgeon also points to a commitment to Housing First as part of the long-term plan.

    People sleeping in our streets is not acceptable, adds the FM.

  15. Funding to tackle rough sleepingpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks whether the same funding that was provided last year to tackle rough sleeping, as part of the recommendations of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, will be provided this year.

  16. Postpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

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  17. Background: Antidepressant use rises in under-13spublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    DrugsImage source, Thinkstock

    Four times as many children under 13 were prescribed antidepressants last year as just seven years ago, figures obtained by BBC Scotland show.

    Last year 252 children aged 12 and under were given antidepressants while in 2009/10 it was 57.

    During the same period the numbers for all children under 18 doubled from 2,748 in 2009/10 to 5,572 last year.

    The Scottish government said the increase reflected a rise in the number of young people seeking help.

    Read more here.

    Untreated mental illnesses such as severe depression can cause extreme sufferingImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Untreated mental illnesses such as severe depression can cause extreme suffering

  18. Concerns children as young as 10 are being prescribed antidepressants says Tory MSPpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    The first minister welcomes more children are coming forward for treatment and highlights £100m of funding for CAMHS and other children's mental health services.

    Ms Wells expresses concerns children as young as 10 are being prescribed antidepressants.

    The first minister says the government wants to see better preventative services.

  19. Children with depressionpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    Tory MSP Annie Wells asks what the Scottish government's response is to reports that the number of children being treated for depression in Scotland has doubled in a decade.

  20. Background: 505 'safety events' at Faslane nuclear submarine basepublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2018

    FaslaneImage source, Getty Images

    There have been more than 500 safety incidents at the home of the UK's nuclear submarine fleet in the past 12 years, it has been revealed.

    Two events at HM Naval Base Clyde had "high potential for radioactive release to the environment", according to the Ministry of Defence.

    But in "neither [Category A] event was any radiological contamination evident", the MoD confirmed.

    The figures were disclosed in response to a parliamentary question.

    Read more.