Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks the Scottish government what progress it has made on finalising contracts with the DWP for continued delivery of some devolved benefits.

Image source, BBC/Getty Images

Older people and social security ministers field questions from MSP during portfolio questions next.

Find the full list of questions here., external

Image source, PA

Portfolio questions on social security begin at 2:30pm.

After that, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will deliver the medium-term financial strategy.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent debating trade and exports.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the Scottish government has long-standing concerns over how performers coming to Edinburgh encounter problems over visas.

Ms Hyslop says she has regularly raised concerns with the UK government and the "added chaos and uncertainty of Brexit" threatens to extend the problem to EU citizens.

She says the current process for visitors is lengthy, complex and costly, with attendees sometimes spending thousands of pounds for a visit that may only last a few days.

There is also no right of appeal, she points out.

Tens of thousands of low-skilled migrants could come to the UK to work for up to a year under proposed new post-Brexit immigration rules., external

The measure, which would last until 2025, is intended to protect parts of the economy reliant on overseas labour.

The idea was described as "shocking" by campaign group Migration Watch.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the new system would be based on UK needs rather than where migrants were from and show the UK "open for business".

Image source, Getty Images

Other proposals in the much-delayed White Paper:

• Scrapping the current cap on the number of skilled workers such as doctors or engineers from the EU and elsewhere
• A consultation on a minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for skilled migrants seeking five-year visas
• Visitors from the EU will not need visas
• Plans to phase in the new system from 2021

Read more here.

SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald says artists that come for the Edinburgh festivals face a "humiliating application process" and visas have been refused.

He says this means artists and performers are being deterred from coming.

Artists are being asked to provide three years' worth of bank statements despite some festivals, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, paying them and covering other costs, Mr Macdonald states.

The visa application process is lengthy, opaque and costly, he says, warning the reputation of Edinburgh festivals is being put at risk as a result.

Image source, EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald is leading a debate entitled 'Hard-line Visa Controls' Impact on Edinburgh’s Festivals'.

Mr Macdonald's motion argues the "UK government’s hostile immigration policy" is impacting on the ability of the Edinburgh’s festivals to attract international guests.

It also says acclaimed international writers, actors and musicians have been forced to cancel trips to the capital’s festivals in recent years, after "hard-line visa controls were introduced".

SNP MSP Clare Adamson asks about benefits to be given to asylum seekers in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon says the best start grant will be given to asylum seekers with children.

SNP MSP Keith Brown insists the Scottish government could do more if it did not have to mitigate UK government policy, a point which Ms Sturgeon agrees with.

Image source, bbc

The first minister says the report is a timely reminder of the challenges Scotland faces due to austerity from the UK government.

She says Scottish government is investing over £125m to mitigate the worst impacts this year alone, as well as taking forward other measures such as expanding free childcare and new benefits.

Ms Smith says there must be urgent action on introducing the income supplement.

Ms Sturgeon says an update on this will be given before the end of June and she urges Labour to join the SNP in calling for the devolution of all welfare powers.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish government's advisers at the Poverty and Inequality Commission, external urged ministers to introduce the family income supplement initiative sooner.

The Commission has said the Scottish government would need to invest "considerably more" on tackling child poverty if it is to meet legally binding targets it has set.

Holyrood has already committed to cutting relative child poverty to less than 10% by 2030-31, while reducing absolute child poverty to below 5%.

But figures showed almost a quarter (23%) of children were living in relative poverty in 2016-17, with this forecast to increase to 27% by 2023-24.

Read more.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith seeks a response to the Poverty and Inequality Commission’s recent finding that the current level of spending directed at tackling poverty in Scotland is "falling well short of what is needed".

Labour MSP David Stewart calls for more regular data collection on social care, as suggested by Age Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon says the government is considering all of Age Scotland's recommendations.

SNP MSP George Adam suggests the higher spend per head than in England demonstrates the difference between priorities of the two governments.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says social care providers are struggling with staff retention and recruitment due to poor wages.

Ms Sturgeon agrees with the point and says the government is pursuing measures to ensure care workers are valued for the job they do. She also says Brexit is a big issue for recruitment.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says demand for social care is growing due to the ageing population.

We are developing a programme for national support of local programmes of care and increasing investment, she adds.

Mr Greene says the wait for care has gone up from 2.5 weeks to three weeks.

He says a lack of finance or staff is limiting the provision of in-home care.

The first minister says Scotland spends the most money on social care per head out of the UK nations.

We need to make sure services are working in a joined up way she adds, pointing to health and social care integration.

Scotland's elderly are facing increasing waits for the social care they need, according to a new report.

More than four in 10 older people requiring "substantial" or critical care were found to be waiting more than the six weeks set out in guidelines.

Age Scotland, which carried out the research, said urgent action was needed to improve the situation.

Local authorities blamed service pressures such as increased demand and limited resources.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks about Age Scotland's report that found four in 10 people requiring substantial or critical care were waiting more than six weeks to receive it.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says the number of people denied the vote last week is "nothing short of disgraceful".

She says the issue arose from the prevarication over Brexit and the UK government took no action to address the warnings about it.

Ms Ross asks about extending the franchise to all elections in the UK.

The first minister agrees 16 year olds and EU nationals should be able to vote and says the Scottish government will continue to press the UK government on this.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks if a contact point for EU citizens denied the vote could be set up to get a better idea of the numbers.

Ms Sturgeon agrees to give the idea some consideration.

Image source, PA

EU citizens living in the UK have told of their anger after they were unable to vote in the European elections.

The Electoral Commission said the "very short notice" from the government about the UK's participation in the elections had an impact on the process.

EU citizens can vote in the country they live in by registering to vote and completing a UC1 form.

But many complained of receiving the form late and of it not being processed by their local authority in time.

Read more here.