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The possession of illicit drugs for personal use should be decriminalised, a report by MPs has said.

The Scottish Affairs Committee also recommended the UK government should back safe consumption rooms in Scotland in a bid to tackle drug misuse.

Drug-related deaths in Scotland reached an all-time high of 1,187 last year.

The Home Office said it had no plans to decriminalise drug possession and that doing so would not eliminate crime associated with the illicit drug trade.

All UK drugs misuse legislation is currently reserved to Westminster.

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• Scotland's drug death crisis in six charts
• What can be done about Scotland's drugs crisis?
• Read more here

SNP MSP Tom Arthur asks what the Scottish government's response is to the Scottish Affairs Committee’s report recommendation to introduce legislation to lawfully pilot a supervised drug consumption facility in Scotland.

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The Rev Duncan J Macpherson, denominational representative chaplain for the Church of Scotland to the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, delivers time for reflection.

Here's what's coming up in the chamber this afternoon...............

2.05pm: Topical Questions on:

1. Drug Consumption rooms
2. Prison staff quitting after sick-leave
3. Deaths abroad: relating to the tragic death of Kirsty Maxwell

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2.20-4.35 pm: Stage 1 Debate: UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill - this aims to address ticket touting and protectthe commercial rights of the organisers

4.35 pm: Members’ Business: Ross Greer – Save Loch Lomond

Ms Beamish wonders if there is any role for the CFW in incentivising customers to change their behaviour, such as putting in greywater recycling systems.

Greywater recycling systems collect the relatively clean waste water used by households and plumb it back into systems for reuse, such as for toilet water. It is common in countries that frequently face drought.

Mr Peacock explains the Forum has not looked at this specifically but it has raised promoting water saving with Scottish Water.

The session draws to a close.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks about the social contract and whether Scottish Water is listening well to the forum.

Mr Peacock replies: "Scottish Water are a pretty remarkable company to deal with."

They are extraordinarily open, he adds.

The CFW chair says he does not always agree with Scottish Water but insists they should be commended for trying to do the right thing.

Mr Peacock says people generally respond positively to changes required to respond to climate change.

But they are resistant to price changes above inflation when they are not provided with information about why it might be needed.

He says there must be a serious engagement exercise on price changes and people will get it.

Scottish Water are trying to build in public engagement into processes rather than bolting it on after, he adds.

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Mr Peacock argues by and large people have a high regard for what they get from Scottish Water and trust the company.

However there is a big challenge to maintain this and maintain its assets, the CFW chair says.

He points to increasing concern about climate change and Sam Ghibaldan agrees customers want Scottish Water to play a leading role in tackling climate change.

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Like a wine taster, Sarah pulls the glass towards her nose and swirls the contents to release the complex aromas before tasting and spitting into a bucket.

She is highly-trained and expert in picking up any abnormal odours or tastes but it is not wine in her glass, it's tap water.

Each year 15,000 samples of drinking water from across Scotland are checked by a team of 23 tasters.

Their noses and tongues detect anything from too much chlorine, which is added to disinfect all tap water, to earthy, fruity, milky or yeasty taints.

• Read more here
• What are your free drinking water rights?
• Is there plastic in your bottled water?

Do you benchmark Scottish Water against other utility companies to find out if they are delivering to the same or better standards, asks Mr Carson.

Mr Peacock suggests comparing with other utilities is not a very high benchmark.

There is a customer experience measure internal to Scottish Water and they are also part of a UK index which looks at all utilities, he adds.

Scottish Water is seen as a very good performer but it is still not as high as some performers in the private sector, Mr Peacock explains.

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Customer Forum for Water chair Peter Peacock explains his organisation continually asks Scottish Water why its proposals will benefit customers.

Mr Peacock says they meet with Scottish Water once a month and puts a lot of effort into researching what customers are thinking, with engagement with thousands of people.

The formal role of the forum is to participate in the price setting process for 2021-2027 by:

• Working with Scottish Water on its programme of customer research to establish what the customers’ priorities for service level improvement are and the level of charges set
• Understanding and presenting the customers’ priorities to the regulator and to Scottish Water
• Seeking to secure the most appropriate outcome for customers based on these priorities.

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The committee will now hear from:

• Customer Forum for Water , externalchair Peter Peacock
• Customer Forum for Water , externaldirector Sam Ghibaldan

Mr Ruskell asks whether trade deals are a threat to Scottish Water as a public body, specifically referring to a post-Brexit deal with the US.

Mr Millican says Scottish Water is trying to keep abreast of all Brexit developments and attempting to plan for the most credible scenarios.

We have not considered any particular threats from trade deals but it will depend on the nature of the deals, he adds.

Image source, Gareth Easton

A network of hi-tech taps is to be installed across Scotland to encourage people to use refillable water bottles.

Scottish Water says its "top-up taps" will be fitted in about 30 towns and cities over the next two years.

The first water refill point will be located outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh during October.

Other taps could be fitted in Glasgow, Ayr, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Fort William Milngavie, Oban, Inverness and Aberdeen by the end of March.

Read more here.

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Business Stream chief executive Jo Dow says about 25% of all water consumed in the UK is used by business customers.

The average business is using 30% more water than they should be, explains Jo Dow.

It's about more than financial returns but about contributing to the environment, she argues.

The Scottish Water representative argues there is a big spectrum of actions that can help reduce water usage.

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A £30m upgrade to services in the Borders has been unveiled by Scottish Water.

It will improve treatment processes and deliver a "more resilient supply" to more than 20,000 households and businesses.

Among the towns which will benefit are Selkirk, Galashiels, Melrose, Lauder, Fountainhall and Newtown St Boswells.

MSP Christine Grahame said it was a "significant investment" which could bring "long-lasting" benefits.

Read more here.

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SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about Dunkeld and Birnam, the first water efficient village in Scotland.

Dunkeld and Birnam saved one million litres of water in a year by encouraging residents and businesses to reduce daily water usage.

Prof Simon Parsons explains water efficiency is a key focus of Scottish Water and points to work with the Energy Savings Trust on changing customer behaviour.

He explains Dunkeld and Birnam came to the Scottish Water specifically about the issue, and work began on water saving measures and related information.

Mr Millican says there are a team of about 50 to 60 people looking at how to adapt legacy infrastructure, which faces legal challenges.

These arise due to Scottish Water not owning properties, he explains.