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In 2017 we reported that the findings from a review of police call handling were published by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.

An inquiry was ordered in the wake of a crash on the M9 in 2015 in which two people died after police call handlers failed to pass on an accident report.

Derek Penman reviewed 98 notable incidents between April and November 2016.

About 23% involved handlers selecting the wrong location for the incident.

But the report from the independent police watchdog pointed out that the incidents looked at represented a tiny proportion of calls received by Police Scotland.

Lamara Bell and John Yuill died following the crash on the M9 in July 2015.

Read more here.

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Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says recent information suggested M9 crash victim John Yuill could have survived if the police had responded to the incident on time.

He says the accident happened four years ago but no fatal accident inquiry has been started.

Why on earth is it taking so long, Mr Rennie asks?

The first minister says she understands the frustration around the length of time it takes for FAIs to begin.

But she adds the decision to hold one and the timescale is a matter for the Lord Advocate, who is independent from government.

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Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asks about a woman who had to give birth hundreds of miles away from her home.

Ms Grant says the woman had twins and all are doing well, but she asks why the air ambulance did not airlift the mum from Caithness maternity unit to Inverness.

The first minister pledges to investigate this case.

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Labour MSP Monica Lennon points to reports that health boards still owe money to Healthcare Environmental Services, while workers have still not received their wages. Ms Sturgeon says she shares the sense of anger around this issue. Regarding payments, she says they are for services that were delivered before the contract ended.

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks about responsibility for health and safety at Tarbolton landfill site. The first minister says she will raise this with the environment secretary.

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SNP MSP David Torrance raises concerns about job losses at Elis Laundry in Kirkcaldy.

Ms Sturgeon says she shares the concerns about the proposed closure.

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Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks about ambulance cover in rural Perthshire and delays in the case of a constituent.

The first minister insists the ambulance service does an excellent job and pledges to get the health secretary to look into the case Mr Fraser raises.

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Mr Leonard points to Clackmannanshire Council, where primary school closures were proposed.

School transport is being axed, class sizes increased, and two hours are being cut from the school week, he says.

If education is your defining mission, why are you imposing £230m worth of cuts on councils the Scottish Labour leader asks.

"To put it bluntly, we are not," replies the first minister.

This time last year, Mr Leonard claimed there would be cuts to education but this year there was a 2.3% increase to education budgets she argues.

But if he wants more money for local government, he must say where is comes from Ms Sturgeon insists.

Pupils downed pens and pencils to stage "strikes" at several schools in Argyll and Bute over a plan to cut services for young people.

Argyll and Bute Council, which is due to set its budget on Thursday, said it was facing "tough choices".

One option for councillors would see a significant reduction in spending on youth services.

Pupil protests at several local secondary schools went ahead on Wednesday.

Read more here.

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Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard raises the issue of children campaigning in Argyll and Bute about cuts to youth services, due to cuts to council budgets.

I always applaud young people campaigning, replies Ms Sturgeon.

She argues that councils will have more to spend due to the budget.

But Mr Leonard says SNP-run Dundee council will cut education resource workers and other staff this afternoon.

He asks why the first minister claims education is her top priority and then sets a budget that means cuts to teachers and education.

The budget this afternoon increases revenue spending of councils by £287.5m, replies Ms Sturgeon.

If Mr Leonard wants more council cash, which budget line should it come from, she asks.

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Mr Carlaw says it sounds as if the first minister is not in favour of her own policy being implemented in her own constituency by an SNP-run council.

Not surprisingly, he tells the chamber his party will oppose the budget this afternoon.

Join us for extensive budget coverage from 2.30pm.

Mr Carlaw presses the first minister on why anyone would back the workplace parking levy.

The first minister reiterates this is a discretionary power that could help cut emissions and raise revenue.

Ms Sturgeon accuses the Tories of only opposing this tax when the SNP propose it.

It is "hypocrisy on stilts" she says.

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"So it's the Henry McLeish defence - it wisnae me it was a town councillor that done it," replies Mr Carlaw.

He says every Tory MSP and every Conservative council leader will oppose the workplace parking levy.

The Scottish Conservative deputy leader asks if Ms Sturgeon would support Glasgow introducing the parking levy.

That's up to the council, hits back Ms Sturgeon.

The Scottish government has defended plans that could see motorists taxed for parking at work amid claims that it will "fleece" workers for hundreds of pounds a year.

Proposals for a workplace parking levy were included in the budget agreement between the SNP and Greens.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney told MSPs that it would be up to individual councils whether to introduce it.

The Conservatives said the tax would hit low-paid workers the hardest.

The power for councils to levy a workplace parking tax is to be introduced via the Transport Bill, with Green MSP John Finnie planning to table an amendment which SNP members have committed to backing.

Read more here.

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The first minister highlights the "inconsistency" of Tory councillors in Edinburgh who she says backed the introduction of a workplace parking tax.

Mr Carlaw says the Tory councillors wanted an economic assessment to be carried out, but the first minister wants to introduce a "back of the fag packet" tax without any impact assessment.

The Scottish Conservative deputy leader asks how the tax can be fair.

Ms Sturgeon reiterates this is a discretionary power that councils in England already have.

She highlights Tory councils that have introduced public car parking charges.

Stuart Nicolson
BBC Scotland News

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Motorists who drive to work could have to pay hundreds of pounds a year for a parking space under proposals in this year's Scottish budget.

The budget deal agreed between the Scottish government and Scottish Greens will allow councils to introduce a workplace parking levy (WPL).

This would see employers pay an annual tax to the council for every parking space they provide for employees.

Employers could then choose whether to pass on the cost to their staff.

Read more here.

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Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh has asked all the party leaders for shorter questions and answers this week.

We shall see.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw thanks Mr Macintoch for "that lengthy introduction" before swiftly moving onto the workplace parking levy.

Ms Sturgeon says the levy would be at the discretion of councils, and that the same powers already exist in England,

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Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell says the UK government has finally recognised that Universal Credit has increased the need for food bank.

We will continue to call for no one to be moved to the new system until its flaws have been addressed, she adds.

Ms Campbell also points to funding to tackle food insecurity.

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Labour MSP Elaine Smyth calls for child benefits to be topped up by £5.

The cabinet secretary says we need to unite to tackle food insecurity, which will be exacerbated by a no deal Brexit.