Image source, BBC/PA

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faces questions from opposition leaders during FMQs at noon.

Then Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton leads a member's debate titled 'Congratulates Doddie Weir OBE and Calls for Automatic Access to Blue Badge Scheme for People with MND'.

After lunch, environment and climate change ministers face portfolio questions.

Then MSPs debate the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill for the first time.

Gail Ross says the committee agrees to write to the Scottish government and COSLA.

The evidence session draws to a close.

George Potts of the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) suggests SNH are actually disengaging from rangers services, highlighting there is no reference to rangers in the corporate plan.

"We need SNH, we need that partnership," he argues.

Mr Potts says the services being funded by SNH now are only 2% of the total.

Ms Stuart from SNH insists her organisation's role is to be supportive of rangers, but accepts the "external profile" is not as high as it has been in the past.

She suggests the forthcoming statement will be used as a way to promote the service.

George Potts says the key area the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association wants to protect is the professionalism of the service.

We are struggling to maintain our national identity he says.

Jim Downie argues the rangers greatest strength is the range of areas the role covers, suggesting access officers and biodiversity officers should feed into an overarching professional ranger service.

Eileen Stuart from SNH suggests revenue from a tourist tax could be used to support the rangers service, since often it is tourists putting the most pressure on our countryside.

Mr Corry asks about the new statement on ranger services.

Eileen Stuart, who explains this statement is in development, says the aim is to highlight the different context in which rangering is delivered rather than how the profession previously worked.

Ranger services have a core role and we must secure their future, she argues.

But skills sharing and development must be the direction of travel, she adds.

Image source, bbc

Bob Reid, the petitioner, says as a ranger people's enjoyment of the countryside is paramount.

He worries a lot of people are excluded from the fundamentals set out in the cradle of rangering set out in 1772.

George Potts says tough financial decisions are having to be made.

Due to the small number of rangers in Scotland, losing one or two jobs can actually mean a 50% cut to teams he explains.

"We need to invest in ranger services," he insists.

Eileen Stuart agrees local authorities do no always value ranger services but will miss it if they are lost.

Image source, bbc

Mr Whittle says it looks like the rangers are an easy target when it comes to public funding.

The Tory MSP asks if there are ways the service can be delivered in a more creative way.

Ms Stuart says they are trying to make the direction of travel of funding clear.

George Potts from the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association explains local authority funding for rangers was previously ring-fenced, but all that has gone.

Mr Potts says the current funding model is not fit for purpose and he would like a review of it.

Image source, SNH

Scottish Natural Heritage published its Rangers in Scotland, external document in 2008 calling for:

• better reporting and promotion of the benefits of ranger services
• greater recognition of the value of rangers by employers and key partners
• more support for projects and initiatives
• continued development of a skilled ranger workforce

It also sought to set out a better definition for the role of ranger, noting some various between how local authorities use the job title.

This petition, external urges the Scottish government to implement the strategic framework for the network of Countryside Ranger Services set out in the Rangers in Scotland.

Ms Ross asks about the benefits of the rangers service in Scotland.

Jim Downie from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority says the service provides environmental protection, a warm welcome to visitors, information and opportunities for outdoor learning.

Brian Whittle wonders why ranger numbers are declining despite most people valuing their service.

Eileen Stuart of SNH says pressures on budgets of organisations and local authorities are having an impact.

But she also points out some areas are specialising so there may be, for example, biodiversity officers instead who may do similar things to rangers.

Image source, SNH

A SPICe briefing, external on the petition explains that prior to 2008 ranger posts were funded by Scottish National Heritage.

There were 300 full time equivalent rangers in Scotland at the time.

But in 2009 the funding was integrated into local government funding.

The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association expressed concern that subsequent cuts to public spending has had an "adverse impact" in partnerships with rangers services.

Image source, bbc

The committee is discussing a framework for countryside rangers services, external with:

• Bob Reid, the petitioner
• George Potts from the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association
• Martin Gray from Historic Environment Scotland
• Jim Downie from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
• Eileen Stuart from Scottish Natural Heritage

The committee agrees to seek the views of the petitioner in response to the plan for a consensus statement.

It also agrees to find out what the English position is.

Image source, bbc

Dr Cauchi explains when abnormalities are picked up in the liver an MRI scan is offered.

The clinician reiterates his comments about the negatives around MRI scanning and says when there is a low risk melanoma, the easier test should be done.

It's about saying yes you can get the Rolls Test but the chances of picking up something in low risk melanoma is low and if the other testing like ultrasound scanning shows anything, then you can move to an MRI scan, he explains.

Dr Paul Cauchi says it is terrible for patients to have different experiences depending on where they live and he highlights that in England the service is much less regulated than in Scotland.

Between 30 and 50 people per year in Scotland get ocular melanoma he states.

SNP MSP David Torrance asks whether the rareness of this type of cancer means there is a lack of understanding among medical professions about it.

Dr Cauchi disagrees, saying surveillance is adopted for a much longer time after ocular melanoma despite it being rarer than other similar cancers.

Rory Cellan-Jones
Technology correspondent

I can't say I was looking forward to my course of treatment for an ocular melanoma. A week of radiotherapy does not sound like a holiday.

But the five days I spent earlier this month at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral, proved both fascinating and more positive than I could have expected.

The cancer hospital sprawls over a large site. But tucked away in a small pleasant building at the back is the National Centre for Eye Proton Therapy.

It is the only place in the UK providing this specialised form of treatment for what is a rare cancer.

Read more.

Ms Ross says the committee has heard from the chief medical officer about the lack of consensus around the use of MRI scans.

Dr Cauchi says clinicians with opposite views are "why medicine is such fun".

He says what is important for patients is if this is going to make a difference to their quality of life and prognosis, and there is absolutely no evidence for that.

An MRI is pretty unpleasant and causes anxiety, he explains.

The clinician adds there is a gap in evidence in rare diseases like ocular melanoma, leading to personal opinions which should be avoided.