Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition party leaders during FMQs
Jackson Carlaw goes on the issue of Brexit, asking if backers of PM's deal are traitors too
Richard Leonard also goes on the rejection of no-deal and is pressed by FM on 'People's Vote'
The dumping of waste is the focus of Willie Rennie's question this week
Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says it is difficult to imagine Global will remain relevant whilst it reduces local content and cuts jobs.
What modelling was put together on the impact on audience figures he asks.
Will Harding says it is a judgement rather than modelling, and if we get it wrong the audience will tell us.
The new breakfast shows will be entertaining, informative, popular programmes he says.
Mr Gibson points out the BBC has just launched a Scottish channel, but commercial radio seems to be going in the opposite direction.
Mr Harding accepts: "If we get it wrong we will suffer."
The BBC are not under the same commercial pressure we are, he points out.
SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson points out the Ofcom guidelines set out a minimum standard for local content.
Why have you chosen to reduce to this minimum, because it seems like you view local content as a burden the MSP says.
We are exploiting the flexibility of network programming, Mr Harding accepts.
That is the only change we are making in Scotland, while elsewhere we have opted to combine shows he says.
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Image source, bbc"I didn't say I didn't care and I certainly did not mean to be flippant," says Mr Harding.
There is no doubt this is a challenge for the industry, he concedes.
Mr Adam warns you'll end up getting some grey person broadcasting form London, you'll be better off listening to the BBC.
Everyone, including the BBC must offer choice, replies Mr Harding, who goes on to say if the commercial industry stands still it will be lost and there will be no local content.
SNP MSP George Adam
SNP MSP George Adam asks how the proportion of Scottish news output has changed on Smooth in recent years.
Corrie Martin is unable to reply - leading Mr Adam to reveal the answer is that it is 30% less from 2005.
Mr Harding says we have to make a difficult decision to balance content and the difficult truth is that listeners want more music rather than speech.
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Ms Baker accepts there will still be a robust news bulletin but there will now no longer be interaction with a Scottish presenter.
Ms Martin says additional short burst information can be dropped in and if there is a major situation we can pull back to local programming.
When the Manchester terrorist attack happened that is what happened to allow Global to "super serve" the local audience, she says.
Corrie Martin, news director for the regions at Global Radio
Corrie Martin, news director for the regions at Global Radio, says most of the time news bulletins go well beyond the requirement of their needing to be one local story.
We punch hugely above our weight, she insists.
"We cover all the big stories as well as covering the day-to-day."
"You will hear fewer local voices," Mr Harding says, but reiterates that local news will not be changing.
Ms Baker says she finds that hard to accept.
Mr Harding says the production of news bulletins is entirely separate, adding there will be no changes to the news bulletins.
The latest review of Ofcom's guidance for local radio has meant fewer locally-produced programmes have to be aired.
FM stations which provide at least hourly peak-time local news now only have to have six hours of local programmes between 6am and 7pm, down from 10 hours under the previous guidelines.
And those which provide local news hourly any time between 6am and 7pm only need to have three hours, down from seven.
Ofcom said the alterations were due to changes in competition and listening habits across the radio sector.
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Claire Baker quotes a post on the Capital Scotland Facebook page saying Global clearly have no idea why people listen to Capital in the morning.
Mr Harding says radio listeners are passionate and accepts they are disappointed by the changes announced.
Ms Baker points out no-one is welcoming the changes out of over 650 posts.
Mr Harding replies Capital Scotland has thousands of listeners and while it does not make his life any easier, the Facebook posts reflect the passion of the listeners.
The convener suggests Global Radio asked questions in such a way as to get the answers it wanted.
Mr Harding disagrees, saying questions were to find out what is important to listeners.
Local presenters come some way down the list of priorities and that is consistent between our research and Ofcom's he explains.
How much money are you saving from these changes, asks Ms McAlpine.
In Scotland the savings are very modest, Mr Harding replies.
The material cost saving is not in Scotland, but rather in the reduction of broadcast centres in England he adds.
Image source, bbcCommittee convener Joan McAlpine says Global seem to have used the Scottish talent for the brand launch and now they are being ditched.
Mr Harding argues nothing has changed in terms of local output since 2010.
"Well it will change because you're dropping them," points out Ms McAlpine.
The Global Radio representative accepts that local programming will reduce from seven hours to three as a result of the latest changes.
Image source, bbc
Local and regional content listeners most value is local news and local information (such as travel and school closures) Will Harding states.
This is must more important to them than where presenters and programmes are based, he explains.
We remain absolutely committed to delivering high quality local news, Mr Harding insists.
Image source, bbcWill Harding from Global Radio
Will Harding from Global Radio says the market share in Scotland is 14%.
We recently announced we are launching three UK-wide breakfast shows which will be broadcast in Scotland, says Mr Harding.
There will be new local drive-time shows, he adds.
Mr Harding is as a result of Ofcom changes to local broadcasting requirements.
Image source, Getty ImagesVick Hope and Roman Kemp present Capital breakfast in London, while until recently Jamie Theakston co-hosted Heart breakfast with Emma Bunton
Global media has announced it will launch UK-wide national breakfast shows on Capital, Heart and Smooth radio.
Global say they will be creating the three largest commercial radio breakfast shows in the UK, with 4.8m, 3.7m and 2.7m listeners respectively each week.
But it means a reduction in locally produced programmes, with more than 100 jobs at risk due to the changes.
Ofcom has approved the move following a change in guidelines, external for local radio.
What does this mean for Scotland?
Convner Joan McAlpine summarises the planned changes at Global Radio.
She then introduces:
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan says the committee has repeatedly requested UK government ministers to appear before it.
This says a lot of the lack of respect the UK government affords this parliament, he insists.
"If it was me, I suppose I wouldn't even bother to get UK ministers here because I know that they wouldn't want to come," replies Prof Cairney.
He adds: "It wouldn't be an information-sharing exercise, it would be a kind of who can look most powerful exercise."
On that notes, the session ends.
Image source, ThinkstockI don't know of a precedent where a sub-state government engages directly with the EU, Prof Keating tells the committed.
Green MSP Ross Greer wonders about utilising the European Committee of the Regions.
There are many pan-European organisations for regions that come and go, Prof Keating says.
It would be possible for Scotland to get into some of these networks, or remain in some of these networks, he adds.
Being a part of the European Committee of the Regions would be difficult because Scotland would not be part of a member state, he says.