Image source, Getty Images

An independent Scotland would look to introduce its own currency within the first few years of leaving the UK under a new policy set to be introduced by the SNP.

Under the proposals, Scotland would initially keep the pound during a "transition period" after independence.

But the Scottish Parliament would decide within its first term when to introduce a separate Scottish currency.

The move would be a major policy shift from the 2014 independence referendum.

Read more here.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the advisory council on women and girls is looking at the issue at its next meeting.

She also commits to looking at focusing on issues to bring about improvements, strategically but at pace.

Ms Smith says women's inequality in medicine includes thyroid patients, and she asks about NHS Tayside who have reportedly refused T3 to a patient.

"That sounds like a completely unacceptable response from NHS Tayside," Ms Freeman replies.

She says she will ask the minister to investigate the matter.

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In a recent Scotsman opinion piece , externalScotland's chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood wrote:

I't’s time to tackle gender inequality in medicine.

What if medicine was sexist? I don’t mean the medical profession, I mean the practice of medicine.

Women remain disadvantaged in society today and women have poorer health than men in older age.

Women’s health has not been prioritised yet women are generally our carers of the young and the old, the providers of a healthy (or otherwise) diet and important influencers of lifestyle habits.

Read more here., external

Labour MSP Elaine Smith asks the government, in light of the recent comments by the chief medical officer for Scotland, what action it is taking to tackle gender inequality in the practice of medicine.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick says the government is considering a range of regulations for clinics as part of a second phase of action on cosmetic procedures, including for fillers provided by beauty therapists.

Botox is a prescribed drug and needs to be registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, he adds.

Image source, RACHAEL KNAPPIER

A woman's lips swelled up so much they touched her nose after she had filler injected at a Botox party.

Rachael Knappier, from Leicestershire, said she "shouted out in pain" after she was given the treatment by a beautician at her friend's house.

She rushed to A&E when her lips swelled dramatically, later seeking private treatment to fix the problem.

The 29-year-old warned others against having lip fillers from someone not medically trained.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks the government what its position is on non-medically qualified practitioners providing Botox and other similar treatments.

Image source, PA/Getty Images/ BBC

Click here for the full list of questions to be asked., external

That brings one of the better Public Petitions Committees to a close, with our thanks to Millie and Ellie!

MSPs will now consider further continued petitions:

PE1551, external on mandatory reporting of child abuse

• the Scottish government will not introduce legislation requiring mandatory reporting., which is backed by many of the submissions.
• there's not a compelling argument for mandatory reporting at this time and current legislaiton should be allowed to bed in says SNP MSP Angus Macdonald
• the committee agrees to close the petition.

PE1595, external on shared spaces moratorium

• the convener notes there will be a working group on the issues raised.
• the committee agrees to write to the Scottish government to clarify its view on its role on shared spaces versus the role of local authorities.

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PE1640, external on action against irresponsible dog breeding

• SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says the petition has "done its job" and Christine Grahame's proposed Responsible Breeding and Ownership of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, external will "progress soon".
• the committee therefore agrees to close the petition.

PE1651, external on prescribed drug dependence and withdrawal

• the committee defers further consideration of the petition until the working group reports

MSPs will now consider further continued petitions:

PE1551, external on mandatory reporting of child abuse

PE1595, external on shared spaces moratorium

PE1640 , externalon action against irresponsible dog breeding

PE1651 , externalon prescribed drug dependence and withdrawal.

Rebecca Russell says she learnt first aid in primary school and adds she wants to become a child nurse and this is entirely because of her enjoyment of first aid.

That's all down to first aid, she says.

Ms Russell adds: "It just made me who I am and what I want to do."

"It feels like a family," says Ms Russell.

"We want to support the young people across Scotland to be resilient," says Frances Stewart.

Convener Johann Lamont says if ever there was an example of the confidence first aid brings, the three young people here today are it.

Ms Lamont thanks the witnesses for their evidence and in particular the demonstration from Millie and Ellie, which was very entertaining.

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Asked by Stuart Callison why the primary pupils did first aid, Millie Robinson replies: "I think I just enjoy it because you get to help people."

You get to meet new people, I think that's it, I think I just enjoy that she concludes.

Scotland has been poor by European standards for first aid training and bystander interventions, says Stuart Callison.

But it is improving, he adds.

Initiatives of this sort are moving the dial in the right direction and teaching it in schools is an opportunity for significant improvements, Mr Callison insists.

Frances Stewart says school budgets are already under pressure, but she is confident that every school would want it if the funding was available.

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Stuart Callison from St Andrew's First Aid says it would be easier to introduce first aid into the curriculum at primary schools, rather than have his colleagues come to the school.

Mr Callison believes pupils learn best from teachers and the training for them would be far from onerous.

Ms Lamont asks how much time the first aid lessons in primary school would take.

Mr Callison replies that they would listen to professionals, but it could be as little as one or two hours a year.

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Colin Peebles, a teacher from Mearns Primary School, Glasgow explains that while first aid is a health and safety outcome, but can be used for numeracy and role play during class.

Ms Lamont says there has been a petitioner who had lost a child because no-one knew where a defibrillator was and adds it is all about confidence.

Colin Peebles from Mearns Primary School say there are doctors, nurses and first aiders that come in to schools to deliver the education.

It also encourages parental engagement in schools and we found it strengthens community links he adds.

Stuart Callison of St Andrews First Aid agrees with this, saying it places schools in the centre of communities.

Frances Stewart tells the committee of a young girl who had a heart attack in school.

Thankfully, the class has received first aid training a few months prior and a teacher and pupil was able to recognise the symptoms as a heart attack.

"They saved that wee girl's life because they got her straight to hospital."

The girl suffered no lasting damage and "that was just from a four hour training course", she adds.

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Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton thanks the girls for enthusing and inspiring the committee and says their calmness doing the first aid demonstration was incredible.

Ms Hamilton asks how teachers can be encouraged.

Ellie Meek, also a pupil at Parkhead Primary, says she would tell teachers it would be quite good if you could teach children it.

Millie Robinson says if teachers know it could save a life, they would want to do it.

Image source, bbc

We've costed up for mannequins to be there for schools which can last for years, explains Frances Stewart.

The resources St Andrews First Aid gives schools enable them to do it themselves and it is sustainable, she adds.