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The boss of the ScotRail Alliance has promised improvements to services after a surge in cancellations.

Alex Hynes said problems in training staff to operate new trains were the main reason for recent delays.

Hundreds of services have been cancelled or had fewer coaches, leading to overcrowding, since the introduction of a new timetable.

Mr Hynes apologised but said travellers should notice "significant" improvements next week.

• Rail commuters hit by cancellations
• Trains cancelled amid staff shortages
• Read more here

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton asks what action the government is taking to ensure that rail transport performs well during the festive period.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs asks if the health secretary will look at improving the accountability, not restricting it.

The health secretary agrees there must be public scrutiny and the government is looking to improve on this.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman insists there is no change to the purpose of the annual reviews.

Ministers will continue to have separate meetings with frontline staff and board chairs, meaning we can have frank discussions on local performance, she adds.

Health boards should be accountable to communities they serve and all boards have had to hold a public meeting on the way forward on integration, Ms Freeman states.

Ms Lennon asks why guidelines have changed.

The health secretary reiterates all boards have been required to hold a public session to allow the public the ask questions on issues of concern.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks why ministers will no longer hold a public session or Q&A as part of the annual review of NHS boards.

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Time for reflection is brought to us today by Mr Robin Downie, former Moderator of the Youth Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

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MSPs will raise issues around the discontinuation of the public session or Q&A as part of the annual review of NHS boards and what can be done to ensure that rail transport performs well during the festive period during topical questions.

After that we'll hear from Brexit Secretary Mike Russell on Scotland‘s preparations for Brexit.

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Another ministerial statement follows on the conduct of reviews and inquiries, after the investigation into the much criticised review of transvaginal mesh implants.

The statement focuses on all reviews going forward.

MSPs then debate the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill for the first time.

SNP MSP David Torrance will then lead a debate entitled ‘Fife Alcohol Support Service, Supporting Fifers for 40 Years’.

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SNP MSP Rona Mackay says the cabinet secretary is working with stakeholders to find an interim solution but the ultimate goal is full integration.

"I'm quite frustrated by the process," says Green MSP John Finnie and he raises concerns about the lack of scrutiny available.

The committee agrees to write to the government for clarification on the points raised.

It moves into private session.

In February we reported that the controversial merger of British Transport Police with Police Scotland would be be delayed.

The then justice secretary, Michael Matheson described the longer timetable beyond April 2019 as "disappointing".

But he said it would allow more time to engage with the Transport Police Federation on issues like pay and conditions.

The Conservatives had already called for the move to be be put on hold.

Committee convener Margaret Mitchell notes the update from the Scottish government does not indicate a timescale for what next.

She suggests asking the government for more information and inviting stakeholders to response to the update.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson highlights concerns about the cost of the programme and suggests an update on this might also be useful.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says the cabinet secretary seems to indicate that regardless of a satisfactory medium-term arrangement, the long-term plan is still to go for full merger.

"I genuinely don't understand that," he says.

Image source, BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

MSPs consider an update from the Scottish government on the proposed integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has written to the committee, external saying "all options for the enhanced accountability of railway policing in Scotland would be re-considered".

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says the letter confirms a "humiliating U-turn" by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.

The Scottish government put its plans to merge British Transport Police and Police Scotland on hold in April.

Dr Brown says some mental health issues might be recent concerns and not historical ones.

For the most part, people with mental health problems are identified by the Scottish Prison Service she explains.

But that information might not be part of the person's original dossier, she says, which is why a parole board may benefit from an expert.

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John Watt from the Parole Board for Scotland says each case is informed by a dossier and that is where there will be a clue to suggest there is a need for a psychiatrist.

I'm not consicous there has been an issue where we have missed a case where someone needed psychiatric assistnace, he says.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks if someone's mental health does not always come into a risk assessment.

Yvonne Gailey from Risk Management Authority says: "Mental health would have to be a factor when someone was undertaking a risk assessment."

She say the resource to address this is not always there.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks about the involvement of a psychiatrist.

Dr Johanna Brown from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland insists the presence of a psychiatrist is of benefit to the parole board panel.

Our experience in treating mental illnesses and management of people within both prison and community settings would be helpful, she says.

John Watt of the Parole Board for Scotland suggests there is not a appetite from psychiatrists to be on the panel, noting a recent recruitment round only had two apply.

He suggests it would be difficult to recruit the number of psychiatrists to sit on all the cases they would be useful for.

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In August the family of a murdered teenager met Scotland's justice secretary to discuss their campaign to strengthen the rights of victims of crime.

Michelle Stewart, 17, was stabbed to death near her home in Ayrshire by her ex-boyfriend John Wilson in 2008.

Wilson was given a sentence of at least 12 years, but could be approved temporary release after only nine.

Ms Stewart's family have launched a campaign calling for more input from families of victims in these decisions.

Read more here.

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John Watt from the Parole Board for Scotland says each decision around parole has to be case specific.

Mr Watt says management plans can include all sorts of satellite surveillance, but if you need all that, the prisoner is probably too dangerous to release anyway.

He says: "The European Court of Human Rights is very, very wary of broad statements."

"So for example if we say we are not going to release anybody who has been accused of violence or sexual offending that would be struck down immediately."

Ms Mackay asks if there has been a reevaluation of how parole cases are dealt with, in light of recent tragic events and two reports that have recommended quite sweeping changes.

"No," replies Mr Watt.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks whether breaching home detention curfew should be an offence.

James Maybee from Social Work Scotland agrees this is worth consideration.

This does not necessarily follow there would be a sanction in every case though, he adds.

Mr Kerr wonders about the power of arrest around breaching HDC.

John Watt from the Parole Board for Scotland explains that police have power of arrest around a bail order and he accepts this could be compared to curfew orders.

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The Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill was announced in the programme for government back in September and introduced to the parliament in February.

The bill includes measures to enable new technologies to be used for electronic monitoring - and allow this sort of monitoring to be used as part of more community sentences and orders.

It will also reduce the length of time which many people will be required to self-disclose previous offences and make the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 more accessible for individuals and employers using the legislation.

• Click here to view the Bill and associated documents., external
• SPICe has also provided a briefing on the Bill., external