Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks if the cabinet secretary agrees the government's failure to improve active travel has contributed to this issue.

The environment secretary does not accept this in any way as a long term failure in terms of active travel.

Ms Marra says climate change covers all portfolios of government so this should not hinder action.

The Scottish government was only funding up to 45% of retrofit costs and some of Scotland's buses are so old that they cannot be retrofitted, she insists.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs asks about air quality monitors across the school estate.

Ms Cunningham says these matters are for local government to take forward and monitors have been put in place where they consider appropriate.

She says the introduction of low emissions zones will start to "force the hand" of bus companies.

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the government takes the health impacts of poor air quality very seriously.

Ms Cunningham cites the Cleaner Air Scotland Strategy is under review and £2.5m annual funding to support air quality improvement.

Ms Marra says the problem is many of the bus companies will struggle to meet the requirement of the low pollution zones.

Image source, bbc

She points out National Express still has 90 buses that fail to meet the EU standards and these buses are "belching out fumes", with the oldest buses are put on school routes

The Labour MSP calls for a commitment to put Clear Euro Six buses on every school route in Scotland and for the minister to write to every bus company about this.

Ms Cunningham replies she is disappointed with the low uptake of grants from the bus companies and will discuss the issue with the transport secretary.

Image source, FLIR

From the Sunday Post:, external

"The number of child cancer cases in Scotland has risen by a third in the last decade, we can reveal.

"The surge in diagnoses yesterday prompted experts, charities and parents of young patients to demand urgent research into the causes.

"Scientists believe air pollution, the use of pesticides, and exposure to chemicals in household paint and solvents are all to blame.

"A total of 151 Scottish children, from newborns to 14, were treated for cancer in 2016, compared with 112 in 2007, a rise of 34%.

"Scottish Government report on childhood cancers highlights the increase since 2010, adding: 'Generally, the numbers of new cancers in children have increased since 2010.'"

Labour MSP Jenny Marra asks about efforts to tackle air pollution in light of reports that this is responsible for the rise in childhood cancers.

Image source, bbc

Professor Arthur Lyon Dahl PhD from the International Environment Forum is delivering today's time for reflection.

After lunch, topical questions focus on the link between air pollution and childhood cancer, and ScotRail's performance.

Then there will be an hour of portfolio questions. Brexit, culture and education ministers will be in the spotlight.

Image source, Getty Images

After that the Scottish government leads a debate titled "It’s Time to End the Stigma of the Menopause".

Finally, SNP MSP Colin Beattie has a member's debate marking International Museum Day.

Helen Martin says the bank should not be investing in a way that undermines its missions.

The missions should overlap and there should be thought in how they would together, she insists.

Matt Lancashire says there must be clarity on excluding businesses, pointing to oil and gas companies which may be investing in the transition process and technologies.

That ends today's session and the committee moves to private.

SNP MSP Colin Beattie pivots to ethical investments and asks about exclusions like on tobacco or greenhouse gas creators.

Should the SNIB follow an ethical lending policy and if so what would it be, he wonders.

Flora Hamilton of the CBI says her organisation does not have an investment inclusion list but clearly it is important the bank is driven by sustainable growth within the parameters of its missions.

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Mr Lancashire says this goes back to the missions and ensuring they are of high societal importance and are ethical as such.

He points out: "We're lacking an ethical mission around the fourth industrial revolution."

We need further clarity of what ethical in the bill is he reiterates, adding it needs to be defined.

SNP MSP Angela Constance asks about the equality impact assessment of the bill.

Helen Martin says it was not extensive and raised a lot of questions about where expertise for following the ethical mission could come from.

She warns the ethical aspect could be easily lost if there is too much focus on the high-growth objects.

Flora Hamilton suggests the bank should act on some of the initiatives coming out of the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, external.

Image source, bbc

Mr Lancanshire says he welcomes the £2bn and 1.3% of GDP is higher than some other countries are putting into their banks.

The concern is the 1.3% won't come to fruition until 2030, he adds.

"There is a war on talent in financial services hence why wages are through the roof."

SNP MSP John Mason asks whether £2bn is enough and about the timescales involved.

The CBI's Flora Hamilton suggests the timescales are tight but "possibly doable".

However, she calls for patience around it because it will not be a quick fix.

Matt Lancashire asks what does ethical investment actually means and he points out that is where the bill lacks real clarity right now.

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry representative calls for more clarity in the bill to help move the conversation forward in terms of the connection between universities' R&D and the bank.

Helen Martin points out the advisory group should inform both the SNIB board and Scottish government ministers.

The STUC representative says having a member of the advisory group on the board along with a workers' seat would be a good thing.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks whether the bank should be lending beyond the private sector, including for third sector and community enterprises.

Helen Martin agrees it should given the stated purpose of the bank.

She suggests putting a rule in around the private sector creates questions around where exactly investment can go, including support for university-led projects or for companies where the Scottish government is a shareholder like BiFab.

Ms Hamilton says the bank should have the widest scope possible and agrees this may leave questions about what is and is not private.

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Mr Lockhart asks about corporate governance and says the Scottish government does not need to get the approval of the board or advisory group.

The Tory MSP asks if Scottish ministers should have such unfettered powers.

Ms Martin says no and adds "there does need to be some checks and balances in the system".

The role of parliament is crucial here and it should have the right to amend the missions of the bank, the assistant general secretary of the STUC tells the committee.

She says there should be an element of consultation with advisory group and the board.

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart asks about ensuring the demand is there for the bank and ensuring businesses access the finance.

Matt Lancashire says there probably will need to be more focus on this from the enterprise agencies and he also points to regional economic partnerships as having a role.

The CBI's Flora Hamilton highlights business investment is at an all time low due to uncertainty around Brexit so there will need to be efforts to consider where the stimulus for investment can come from.

Ms Martin calls for agencies to work with civil Scotland and trade unions, as the bank is aiming to drive shared prosperity in communities.

Image source, bbc

"We absolutely think that parliament should have a role," replies the STUC's Helen Martin.

This is about £2bn of public money and inclusive growth which should promote fair work and a low-carbon future, elucidates the assistant general secretary.

"Just debating the missions is the absolute minimum the Scottish Parliament should be doing."

At the moment the SNIB is set to narrowly invest in the private sector, she adds.

Ms Martin says she wonders if there needs to be more oversight and tells the committee there should be role for local government.

The bank must keep Scotland competitive and help to boost our exports, Matt Lancashire from SCDI insists.

Drivers of this will be investment in micro-technology, renewable energy and other innovative sectors, he states.

Mr Wightman asks about ministers setting the missions and the membership of the bank.

Mr Lancashire says ministers will not have a role in day-to-day decision making and the SCDI has been clear about the need for operational independence.

Green MSP Andy Wightman suggests a key role will be providing funding for innovation and he questions the use of the phrase "commercial activities" given that some technologies may not be commercial initially.

Helen Martin says the contradiction seems to be being built into the bank.

To make the bank self-sustainable within ten years means seeing return on investment in five years, she highlights.

This will act as a brake on doing what the bank is supposed to be doing, like investing in long-term, slower projects she suggests.