Image source, Getty Images

More than half of the pupils who responded to a Holyrood survey said they were not able to take all of the subjects they wanted to at school.

The Scottish Parliament's education committee ran surveys as part of its inquiry into subject choice in schools.

Some pupils complained about having to take "useless subjects" that they "hated" because their preferred options were not available.

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that the education system is "performing well".

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says if pupils drop subjects in S4 it is difficult to pick them up.

"That is a ridiculous argument to advance," hits back Mr Swinney

The OECD recommend change should be driven by the teacher not from the centre, he says, a position he supports.

Image source, bbc

In 2015 the OECD found achievement in Scottish schools was above international averages - but the gap is narrowing.

Particular concerns were raised about maths where performance has fallen from high to average over the past decade, in the reviewof the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), external.

Focusing on S4 subject choice does not recognise the increase in subject choice up to S3, argues the education secretary.

He adds pupils stay in school longer and take forward a range of national progression awards and warns against misplaced comparisons, calling for the focus to be on what pupils leave school with.

Education Secretary John Swinney says the purpose of CfE is to provide young people with the skills and knowledge to thrive after school.

It was predicated on the view that teachers are in the best place to know learners and they are therefore in the best position to make decisions, he adds.

Mr Swinney expresses concern that debates such as today's is "narrowly focused" on S4.

Ms Smith insists the debate is about the choices pupils are afforded.

The education secretary says young people can study a wide range of subjects across eight curricular areas for three years in the general education phase, which increase breadth.

The amendment from Education Secretary John Swinney highlights the education committee's inquiry into subject choices is still ongoing and says the parliament should return to the matter once a full range of evidence has been received.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Ms Smith says there has been a huge imbalance between the broad general education and the senior phase.

The Tory MSP points out pupils suddenly have to drop down to six subjects in S4.

"The effective choice is now being constrained."

She concludes calling for a debate about what the core curriculum offers in schools and says the number of teachers has been squeezed.

Education Secretary John Swinney says welcoming additional choices and bemoaning a reduction in subjects available at S4 is contradictory.

Ms Smith says there is no contradiction, adding it is not about numbers but about the diminution of the core subjects pupils want and need to take.

Pupils from the more disadvantaged communities are most likely to have fewer subjects to choose from, the Tory MSP goes on to highlight.

Mr Swinney says schools have more flexibility on what they can offer.

One of the serious problems with the CfE is that restricting S4 pupils to six choices can see pupils only having one option after the three sciences, English and maths replies Ms Smith.

Ms Smith says the focus on core knowledge has been diminished as hard pressed teachers are having to wade through thousands of pages about the CfE.

The Tory MSP points out concerns were first raised about the narrowing of subject choices in 2013.

The majority of schools in Scotland are now only offering six subjects in fourth year, she adds.

"They are offering fewer core subject choices than they were before."

Tory MSP Liz Smith begins by stating Scottish education must be based on excellence and equity.

The Scottish government knows it can no longer make the claim of having all round excellence, Ms Smith argues.

We cannot unlock the full potential until we address fundamental flaws in the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, including the issue of subject choices she states.

The CfE was built on the idea that young people should be equipped with skills needed in the future Ms Smith says.

"The curriculum has completely lost its balance."

Ms Smith's motion says the new curriculum structure has "exposed some fundamental failings" around subject choice.

The party is urging the government to "take urgent action" to address the issue.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish Conservatives will now lead a debate on subject choices.

Image source, bbc

Joe Fitzpatrick welcomes the research on the causes of the outbreak in 2015.

The public health minister says it looks like the outbreak is coming under control, according to the HIV figures published yesterday.

Image source, bbc

Mr Sarwar says he backs the Scottish government's call for the introduction of a safe injecting room in Glasgow to tackle this issue.

The Labour MSP calls for urgent action to tackle homelessness which lies behind the problem.

Mr Fitzpatrick lambastes the UK government for not introducing a safe injecting room and calls for the powers to do so to be devolved.

Image source, bbc

A rise in cocaine injecting and homelessness are behind a 10-fold increase in HIV infection among drug users in Glasgow, research suggests.

The Glasgow city centre outbreak is the UK's largest in more than 30 years.

The study - conducted between 2011 and 2018 - involved almost 4,000 people who inject drugs in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

More than 100 new cases of HIV were identified among drug users in the city between 2015 and 2017.

• Read more here
• MP launches bid to legalise 'fix rooms'
• Are UK drug consumption rooms likely?
• MSPs support 'fix room' law change

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar asks for the government's response to research from Glasgow Caledonian University that suggests a tenfold increase in HIV infection rates among drug users in Glasgow

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the total amount of compensation paid out since 2016 is £144,000.

Mr Chapman says this is a "significant sum", adding payments have risen year on year.

He suggests this is because fewer employees are being asked to do more, attributing this to underfunding of NHS Grampian.

Ms Freeman refutes the suggestion, saying staffing numbers have increased in the health board and NHS Gramphian is not underfunded.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks the Scottish government how much compensation has been paid to NHS Grampian staff in each year since 2016 for incidents or injuries in the workplace.

Education Secretary John Swinney says this is an operational matter for the SQA but assures the member that the Scottish government is in contact with it to ensure alternatives are in place.

Some of the trade unions have been in agreement with the restructuring proposals from the SQA, he adds.

It is good and constructive practice for there to be dialogue on any issues, says the education secretary.