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Music tuition should be provided free of charge in schools, Holyrood's education committee has recommended.

Some councils still give pupils individual lessons for free, but others have introduced charges of up to £524.

MSPs said they "respect the democratic right of local authorities to take decisions about local expenditure and acknowledge the choices they face".

But they said that "in principle, music tuition should be provided free of charge in every local authority".

Read more here.

Education Secretary John Swinney says the expressive arts are of great importance to Scotland's culture and economy.

Mr Swinney says being involved with music allows young people to be creative and gain huge benefits.

The education secretary insists the Scottish government fully supports the instrumental music service, with one in every local authority.

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Mr Swinney says he shares concerns over any reduction in the instrumental music services.

Local authorities are entrusted by statute to make the decisions about these services he insists.

He argues it is up to each local authority to decide how it deploys the resources it receives and he urges councils to offer instrumental music tuition at no cost to the pupils involved.

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The number of children receiving musical instrument tuition in Scotland's schools has dropped by more than 1,200.

The figure coincides with more local authorities starting to charge for lessons, or increasing their charges.

There has also been a big drop in the number of tutors in schools since 2007.

In the first recorded fall in instrumental pupil numbers, the figure dropped from 61,615 in 2016/17, to 60,326 in 2017/18.

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The committee's key recommendation was that instrumental tuition should be, in principle, free of charge highlights the convener.

Adequate preparation for music SQA exams must start well before S4, she adds.

The explicit inclusion of such tuition in the core curriculum would have practical implications that would need to be carefully considered Ms Adamson says.

But the benefits could far outweigh these considerations she insists.

Education committee convener Clare Adamson explains the inquiry into music tuition fees was instigated following correspondence with the Music Education Partnership Group.

All pupils in Scotland in P1 to S3 are taught music as part of broad general education, while instrumental music tuition is an additional service she says.

Since the committee's report, COSLA has issues fresh guidance on the latter but questions remain on the future funding of such services the SNP MSP adds.

Ms Adamson notes some local authorities do not charge at all and some charge for instrument hires and/or lessons, which can be a prohibitive sum for many families.

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The education committee will now lead a debate on its report, A note of concern: The future of instrumental music tuition in schools, external.

It concluded: "The Committee believes in principle that music tuition should be provided free of charge in every local authority."

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Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says it has only been three days since conference and already the cabinet secretary is retreating from the position agreed there.

Mr Fraser asks what extra transaction costs a different currency would impose on companies.

The finance secretary does not answer that question directly but instead reiterates that Scotland will keep the pound upon independence and use the six tests outlined by the Growth Commission.

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The Sustainable Growth Commission set out six tests for a new currency to be set up:

1. Does Holyrood have borrowing and debt at sustainable levels?
2. Stability for the central bank and the issuing of debt - that is, the confidence of the bond markets.
3. Would a separate currency meet the needs of Scottish residents and businesses for stability and continuity of their financial arrangements, and would it command wide support?
4. Sufficient foreign and financial reserves.
5. Would the new currency better reflect new trading and investment relationships?
6. Is there a significant gain from shifting monetary policy to a different economic cycle to the Bank of England's - perhaps with other trading partners

Mr Kelly says people and business want a government dealing with the issues that matter rather than "wasting time" on another referendum.

Mr Mackay says the Scottish government is investing more in health, education and rail than proposals from Labour would have seen.

He insists it is with independence that Scotland can grow its economy, adding that the government is doing all it possibly can with the powers it has.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the SNP's proposals are to keep the pound immediately after independence.

Mr Mackay cites the work of the Growth Commission and its six tests which were backed.

Until a new currency can be safely established the currency of an independent Scotland should continue to be the pound sterling, he says.

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Mr Kelly argues the policy that emerged from conference was for dropping the pound as soon as possible which would make families even worse off in Scotland.

Mr Mackay says he is delighted James Kelly is now scenario planning for independence.

He argues the SNP have set out that it would continue with the pound until an independent Scottish parliament decided the six tests were met.

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The SNP has backed proposals for a new currency in an independent Scotland - although the leadership was defeated over the timing.

The party's conference voted to replace the pound with a separate Scottish currency "as soon as practicable".

This went against the wishes of leader Nicola Sturgeon, who had wanted a more gradual transition to a new currency.

Ms Sturgeon played down the result of the vote, and said the party could "move forward with confidence".

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Labour MSP James Kelly asks about assessments carried out on the potential impact on businesses across Scotland of no longer using the pound.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf says the allocation of resources is for the Scottish Police Authority and chief constable to determine.

The annual policing budget this year is £1.2bn. he adds.

However, he agrees to raise the SPF report with the SPA at a meeting tomorrow.

Mr McArthur asks if the estate has been poorly managed or if there has not been enough funding.

Mr Yousaf says works have already begun to resolve the issues raised in the report, adding Police Scotland has committed to ensuring facilities are fit for purpose with capital funding being directed towards this.

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Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks what the government's response is to the Scottish Police Federation describing some of the buildings in the police estate as being “unfit for human habitation”

Oban police station has been branded the worst in Scotland after an inspection of police buildings.

The mould-covered property was called "unfit for human habitation" by the Scottish Police Federation, which carried out an investigation into conditions in the police estate.

It claimed the stations in Lochgilphead and Oban should be "closed immediately" over public health concerns.

Police Scotland says it was addressing the issues raised by the federation.

Read more.

Rabbi Eli Grunewald, a Jewish student chaplain, is delivering today's time for reflection.

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After topical questions on the police estate and currency plans, the education committee leads a debate on music tuition fees. Earlier this year, it backed free access for all.

Finally, Tory MSP Miles Briggs highlights the care needs of people with Parkinson's.