Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says only two-fifths of the Scottish electorate voted last Thursday, asking if the Scottish government is content with that level of turnout.

Ms Hyslop says this was one of the biggest turnouts for EU elections ever.

She then urges the Scottish Conservatives to ensure a no-deal Brexit is off the table and "we can stop Brexit if we act together."

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie asks if the Scottish government is still committed to legislation to ensure the right to vote is based on residency, not citizenship.

The cabinet secretary agrees this is a fundamental issue and the forthcoming legislation will focus on residency.

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the results are welcome and it was a "stunning success" for the SNP.

She says it demonstrated overwhelming support for Scotland remaining in the EU.

The gender balance of the Scottish MEPs is also welcomed by Ms Hyslop, before she praises former MEP David Martin for his service.

Ms Hyslop insists the best option now is for another referendum on EU membership.

Asked about some EU citizens not being allowed to vote, the cabinet secretary says the Scottish government has some concerns about this, before adding "this challenge was foreseen".

Image source, Getty Images

The SNP has increased its number of MEPs from two to three while Scottish Labour lost both its seats in the European elections.

With all 32 Scottish council areas having declared their results, the SNP won 37.7% of the vote - up from 29% in the last EU election.

The Brexit Party secured second place and won one seat. The Lib Dems and Tories also won a seat each.

Labour came fifth with less than 10% of the vote - down from 26% in 2014.

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SNP MSP George Adam seeks a response to the EU election results.

Time for reflection is being delivered by Reverend Dr Fiona Douglas MBE from the University of Dundee.

Image source, Getty Images

After lunch, topical questions will cover water contamination at a school and the EU election results.

Then the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill is debated for the first time - it will make parents physically chastising their children illegal.

Finally there will be a member’s debate on Universal Credit and mental health.

MSPs will now consider public petition PE1458 by Peter Cherbi on a register of interests for members of Scotland's judiciary, external.

Green MSP John Finnie says he "can't understand" why there is opposition to a register of interests for the judiciary and adds he is "not content with the cabinet secretary's response".

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson agrees this would be a positive step to ensuring transparency in the system and asks that the committee progresses work on this.

The committee agrees to invite Moi Ali and Lord Carloway - Lord President of the Court of Session and head of the Scottish Judiciary - to give evidence.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks about the destinations of those who leave secure care.

"We seriously let our young people down," replies Carol Dearie, from St Mary's Kenmure.

She says a 17-year-old girl due to leave secure care in June is facing a placement in a homeless hostel.

Anyone who says that is a good transition is "not only letting that kid down, they are letting the country down," she says.

Young people are leaving into environments where they are vulnerable again and that is an "absolute disgrace", Ms Dearie says.

The session on secure places draws to a close.

Alison Gough of the Good Shepherd Centre expresses concern that secure care organisations for children are talked about in market terms, like "supply and demand".

We are all not for profit organisations and governed by the same regulations which cover charities, she says.

She highlights that the secure care sector has led on treatments and intentions available to those in care, as there is no statutory national requirement for this.

There is no secure care commissioning cycle, Ms Gough tells the committee, which has led to many centres being full.

There is no mechanism for looking at rising levels of need for secure care, she adds.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks how the funding and structure of secure care works.

Carol Dearie from St Mary's Kenmure explains that each year the organisation has to go to a panel to request a budget.

Sometimes we receive less than we have asked for, which means we have to cut our services, she adds.

Ms Dearie says this can be very difficult and can affect the services for our children.

Commitee convener Margaret Mitchell asks Lesley McDowall of the SPS how she would address the varying quality of data on suicide.

Ms McDowall says suicide rates tend to be fairly static and the SPS looks at it on a three-year rolling average, rather than an annual basis.

She adds the rate tends to sit between eight and 11 over a three-year period.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks whether a bespoke suicide and self harm strategy will be made by the Scottish Prison Service, as recommended in the prison inspector's report.

Colin McConnell says the SPS embraces the recommendation and will look to act on it to the satisfaction of the prisons inspector in due course.

Polmont staff are receiving mental health first aid training at the moment, Lesley McDowall from the SPS tells the committee.

She adds that the national mental health strategy included a commitment to more support for frontline staff and says the SPS has given a commitment to being involved with what arises from this strategy.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson insists officers must have some sort of expertise given the high number of prisoners with mental health issues or learning difficulties.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks if the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) accepts the recommendations directed to it by the HMIPS report.

Colin McConnell, chief executive of the SPS, says the report is to the justice secretary, not the SPS.

Humza Yousaf is expected to make a statement to parliament on this before the summer recess, he adds.

But the SPS does welcome any recommendations made to it, Mr McConnell insists.

SNP MSP Shona Robison asks how soon do agencies begin to interact when a young person is due to be transferred from secure care to Polmont.

Lesley McDowall says there is an information sharing protocol between the Scottish Prison Service and the nine health boards that provide healthcare in prisons.

Audrey Baird from the Kibble Centre highlights ongoing discussions initiated by the Scottish government about this.

Audrey Baird, from the Kibble Education and Care Centre, insists some young people should not be placed in a locked, secure environment.

They need a therapeutic, trauma-led approach to deal with their mental health issues, she says.

This sort of facility does not exist in Scotland for children, Ms Baird explains, though Kibble is currently looking at developing this.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks whether the age limit for when young people can be in secure care, rather than going to prison, can be raised.

Carol Dearie from St Mary's Kenmure expresses concern that more emphasis is put on age than vulnerability.

She highlights the case of man who was moved to Polmont prison from St Mary's Kenmure upon turning 18, despite only having a few months left to serve.

There is an urgency to look at the age limit in secure care and it may need to go further than 18, she argues.

Colin McConnell says the Scottish Prison Service is on an improvement journey but there are still issues.

The chief executive of SPS expresses concern specifically about movements that are not planned and responding to this.

Lesley McDowall, health strategy and suicide prevention manager for SPS, adds that a planned transfer between placements would lead to more information sharing about a young person.

This is more difficult with unplanned transfers, she says, but the prison service asks to be alerted when young people are going to court and they might come to prison at the earliest opportunity.