Tory MSP Dean Lockhart asks about action to increase access to funding for apprenticeships in the construction sector.

Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the EU will remain key for Scotland's tourism industry and VisitScotland is actively promoting Scotland as open, despite Brexit.

Mr Coffey highlights the number of people travelling to Dublin each year and suggests ferry services between Scotland and Dublin should be looked at.

The cabinet secretary says she is interested in increasing travel between Dublin and Scotland, though a viable service has not yet been developed.

SNP MSP Willie Coffey asks how the government sees tourism between Scotland and EU countries developing in the future.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks what the costs will be of establishing the citizens' assembly will be.

Mr Russell says that will depend on the kind of assembly which he will discuss with all parties.

The Brexit secretary tells the chamber the costs will be transparent.

Mr Tomkins says, given that the Scottish Parliament is the most expensive in the UK per capita, why do we need the cost of a citizen's assembly.

There are differences between the citizen's assembly and the Scottish Parliament, as in Ireland the assembly saw the noise and confusion of politics can be gotten rid of and the facts were looked at.

Mike Russell says the EU exit experience has shown a weakness in the devolution settlement and the Scottish government want to avoid such divisions if Scotland votes for independence.

This is why a citizens assembly has been suggested he says, and he confirms ministers behind a similar assembly in Ireland have been invited to inform the next steps.

It will require a lot of work the minister adds, hoping other parties will take part in the process.

Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence by 2021 if the country is taken out of the EU.

The first minister told Holyrood that she would introduce legislation soon to set the rules for another vote.

She also announced plans to establish a Citizens Assembly to consider Scotland's future, which she said had been done in Ireland to "help find consensus on issues where people have sharply divided opinions".

She said this would bring together a representative cross-section of Scotland with an independent chair.

Read more here.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks about the scope citizens' assemblies could have in the governance of Scotland.

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Brexit Secretary Mike Russell replies he is aware councils are expressing concerns about the possible costs of leaving the EU.

Mr Russell says Cosla has asked the Scottish government for an additional £1.6m to help meet Brexit related costs and he will respond after the election period.

Mr Kelly warns that with Boris Johnston now announcing he is standing for leadership of the Tories the prospect of a no-deal Brexit has increased.

He says of the £92m allocated to the Scottish government to prepare for no deal, none has been made available to Glasgow and he calls for a fair allocation of money to prepare for no deal.

The Brexit secretary insists the Scottish government will be as prepared as it can be for no deal.

Image source, bbc

Image source, EPA

In January, the BBC reported on an unpublished document detailing Scotland's plans for handling "worse case" scenarios resulting from a no-deal Brexit.

Public disorder, reduced food supplies and disruption to transport are among the issues examined in the paper.

Agencies, including local authorities, have fed their plans into the document labelled "official sensitive".

The Scottish and UK governments are looking at what might happen if a deal to leave the EU is not agreed in time.

Read more here.

Labour MSP James Kelly asks about funding made available to Glasgow City Council to support preparations for a potential no deal Brexit.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the choice on whether to discontinue the franchise must be taken before the remedial plan will be fully implemented.

He suggests the Scottish government has no intention of taking the contract away from Abellio ScotRail.

Mr Matheson refutes this and also criticises Labour's position, stating the party wants to see fewer powers for Scotland because it wants a UK-wide public rail service.

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks how many of the class 385 trains have not been delivered.

The minister confirms 61 out of 70 have been received, and he confirms he will continue to press Angel Trains and Wabtec on the matter.

Image source, DOUGIE JOHNSTON

SNP MSP Richard Lyle urges Mr Rumbles to join the SNP calling for the devolution of the levers of control of rail.

Mr Matheson agrees Network Rail have to be held to account for their failures and calls for accountability around both ScotRail and Network Rail.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene points out the delays at the weekend were caused by driver shortages, nothing to do with Network Rail.

The transport secretary insists there will always be the case of crew shortages and he accepts the failure of ScotRail, but cites an improvement in service.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says the new ScotRail timetable delivers important benefits from recent improvements, including new high speed trains and over 115,000 more seats per day.

ScotRail delivered 92.4% PPM on the first day of the new timetable, he adds.

Mr Rumbles says the ScotRail compensation system is fragmented and confusing.

The transport secretary says customers can use the app to make claims, but he adds ScotRail must consider any issues raised.

The Lib Dem MSP asks whether compensation levels will fall dramatically this year because of these plans.

Mr Matheson says if performance improves there will be less of a need for compensation claims to be made.

He adds that all parts of the rail network must be playing their part in improving performance, highlighting that 62% of all delays were due to Network Rail infrastructure challenges.

Image source, Getty Images

According to the Daily Record,, external ScotRail paid out more than £1.1million to delayed passengers last year – up an astonishing 73 per cent.

The huge increase on the previous 12 months led to calls for the Scottish government to take the franchise away from parent company Abellio.

The operator has been blamed for causing misery to passengers and commuters on overcrowded, frequently cancelled and delayed services.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson revealed ScotRail paid delayed passengers £1.1million in compensation during the financial year 2018-19. The total was £647,670 in the previous year.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks whether the new ScotRail timetable will alleviate delays and cancellations, in light of the 73% increase in compensation payments being made by the operator in 2018-19