Image source, bbc

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says he is pleased to report good progress is being made.

Mr Matheson quotes the contractor who has said the snagging work will be finished by the end of this year, weather permitting.

The cost of snagging works is borne by the contractor, the minister tells the chamber.

Image source, Getty Images

In August we reported work on the Queensferry Crossing was still not complete - two years after it first opened.

The £1.34bn bridge across the Firth of Forth was opened in August 2017, coming in under budget but completed eight months later than first estimated.

Snagging work that still needs to be finished includes painting, mechanical and electrical work.

However, wind barriers have kept it open 34 times when its predecessor, the Forth Road Bridge, would have closed.

Read more here.

Image source, Transport Scotland

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks the Scottish Government what progress is being made in completing the snagging work on the Queensferry Crossing, which is due to be completed by the end of the year, and whether this will lead to roadworks.

Image source, bbc/Getty Images/PA

Read the full list of questions here., external

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing welcomes the UK government's commitment to repay the £160m.

These monies are ring-fenced for agriculture and upland, hill and island farmers will benefit first he adds.

We will consider very carefully about how best to disperse the funds, the cabinet secretary says.

Mr Ewing says he has written to UK ministers to request the money comes now.

Image source, Getty Images

The UK government confirmed £160m for farmers in Scotland, to settle along-running rowover the redistribution of Common Agricultural Policy payments, in it's spending plans last month.

The payout resolves a row over the way the EU paid subsidies.

In 2013, the EU announced moves to redistribute Common Agricultural Policy payments more fairly, on the basis of average euros per hectare.

The EU paid the uplift money to bring Scottish hill farmers up to the average per-hectare payments of all the other EU countries.

However, the decision was made by the UK government to spread the payments across the whole farming sector, based on historical distributions.

Read more here.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks the Scottish government what criteria it is using to determine where the £160 million of convergence funding is allocated.

Image source, Getty Images

Read the full list of questions here., external

Image source, Getty Images

• 2pm: Portfolio Questions: Rural economy and then transport, infrastructure and connectivity
• 2.40-3.50pm: Labour Debate: Give Them Time campaign
• 3.50-5.00pm: Labour Debate: End Abellio ScotRail franchise
• 5pm: Decision Time
• 5.05pm: Members’ Business: Emma Harper – Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week

Green MSP John Finnie asks about steps to minimise climate change impacts incurred by road repairs.

Robert Nicol from COSLA says his organisation have thought quite deeply about this issue and it will be considered carefully in the months and years ahead.

Mr Finnie asks how maintaining the same road building programme is going to protect the environment.

Image source, bbc

We are obviously acutely aware of the climate emergency, replies Mr Morrison, citing targets for ultra low emission vehicles in road maintenance contracts going forward.

The Transport Scotland representative details requirements for contractors to reduce their carbon footprint over the project, linked to payments.

He points to targets for the recycling of materials and their reuse.

SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says there is an issue with work undertaken by utilities companies focusing on minimising costs rather than maximising quality.

Stewart Turner of SCOTS says there are good examples out there but accepts there is a need to get to a position that there are more of them.

Ideally what we would like to do is to resurface roads once utility works have been completed, but that comes down to budgets, he tells the committee.

Image source, Infrastructure Commission for Scotland

SNP MSP Emma Harper asks if the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland, external is looking at the future of Scotland's roads.

Donald Morrison from Transport Scotland replies a long term financial plan in terms of road maintenance will provide options for the future to feed into the work of the commission.

Ewan Wallace also details work his organisation, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland, is doing with the commission.

Tory MSP Finlay Carson highlights a petition expressing dissatisfaction with the maintenance of the A77 and A75.

How are ramps onto these roads managed, he asks.

Life cycle plans set out a long-term approach says Donald Morrison.

He explains annual programmes of planned work are set out based on local priorities, which happen alongside reactive work (such as fixing potholes).

Image source, PA

Winter is the season when most potholes appear on roads. But is the problem becoming worse year-on-year?

You might not see them as you drive along the UK's roads, but the chances are you'll feel them. Potholes - collapsed areas in the tarmac resulting from the pressure of traffic and bad weather - are a menace for motorists.

They send a shudder up the spine, damage vehicles' suspension and can make them career in the wrong direction. Cyclists are vulnerable to being thrown from their saddles, with potentially deadly consequences.

The AA says insurance claims, external for accidents involving pothole-related repairs are on the increase.