Image source, bbc

Joan McAlpine says Brexit uncertainty remains the dominant theme for her committee.

The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, external convener says Boris Johnson wants to secure a Super Canada Plus trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020 and she asks if the first minister thinks the timetable is realistic.

Nicola Sturgeon answers: "I don't think it is realistic at all."

It is as close to impossible as you can get to achieve that timetable, she adds.

Ms Sturgeon posits by the middle of next year we will be staring down the barrel of a no-deal Brexit again, which fills her with "horror".

Mr Macdonald says the programme for government set out a target of 800 more GPs and wonders if this number should be reviewed or whether targets for other healthcare professionals should be set.

The first minister agrees any targets should be kept under review but the government is focusing on meeting this GP target now.

She points to £500m additional investment going towards primary care and explains not all of this will go to solely GPs, but to primary care in the broadest sense.

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Health and Sport Committee convener Lewis Macdonald points to the primary care inquiry being carried out by his committee and electronic access to healthcare.

The first minister welcomes the focus on primary care and agrees electronic access is vitally important.

Ms Sturgeon points out the health service cannot and must not be immune to the move to carrying out large swathes of our lives online.

Mr Macdonald asks if there needs to be greater urgency on electronic access.

The first minister replies she does not know if there is a lack of urgency.

Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee convener Gillian Martin says her committee was told last week to be working towards responding to a temperature increase of 3-4 degrees.

Is there cross-portfolio planning taking place with this in mind, she asks.

The first minister says it is a "moral obligation on all of us" to limit temperature rises and Scotland needs to show leadership.

Climate adaptation is just as important as the work to reduce emissions, she adds, and points to the new five-year programme covering all sectors of government to do so.

"It's very much a priority," she adds.

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Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame welcomes the first minister to the meeting.

Ms Grahame explains this session offers the opportunity to ask the first minister about her programme for government.

Image source, Andrew Cowan

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will face questions at noon from committee conveners.

Convener Edward Mountain says there must be an idea of what the implementation of the island plan will cost.

Mr Wheelhouse says there are some areas where there is more clarity than others.

We do not have sufficient baseline information to know how far we have to go in terms of objectives, he explains.

"For clarity, you haven't got a definitive cost for this?" asks Mr Mountain.

"Not in the format I think you are looking for," replies the minister, adding it will come later with the implementation strategy.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says the plan lacks SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) measures.

Mr Wheelhouse accepts the point, but says the plan does set out a number of actions flowing from objectives and more SMART goals will be set going forward.

Part of the issue is a lack of data on which to base the SMART objectives, he adds.

We are clearly committed to developing the framework Mr Rumbles is yearning for, he states.

Mr Wheelhouse accepts the plan is quite high level at this point but says we will get down to a granular level.

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Green MSP John Finnie tells the committee asks why the plan was not published in Gaelic.

Mr Wheelhouse offers his apology if it came across that the government did not respect Gaelic, adding he hopes that addressing depopulation will help to strengthen language.

"I very much believe Gaelic has a strong role to play in Scottish society today," adds the minister.

He explains it was in due to tight timescales.

The final islands plan will be published in both England and Gaelic, he confirms.

Mr Finnie asks how the plan can align more closely with the National Gaelic Plan.

Mr Wheelhouse replies it will be as closely aligned as possible.

Image source, Getty Images

"Historic" legislation to offer greater protection and powers to Scotland's island communities has been passed.

The Islands (Scotland) Bill was unanimously backed by MSPs at Holyrood.

It gives island councils extra powers over activities on and around their coastlines and requires ministers to have a long-term plan for improvement.

Islands minister Humza Yousaf said the passage of the bill was "an important milestone for island communities".

MSPs also agreed an amendment to the bill barring public bodies from putting Shetland in a box on maps of Scotland.

• 'Nobody puts Shetland in a box'
• Look back on the final debate on the Islands Bill

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SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about how best to get island scale data.

The minister says there are 96 inhabited islands and the consultation reached nearly 1,000 islanders.

Mr Wheelhouse thinks more work needs to be done around gender, however he points to a number of reports which give a flavour of the issues raised.

There are significant gaps in the data and the baseline needs to be established, for example by Scotland's Rural College.

Clear actions setting out how we will deliver on the objectives that are set out, Mr Wheelhouse tells the committee.

The minister says he is committed to ensuring the approach is driven forward collaboratively with stakeholders so work does not become siloed.

Depopulation has come through as one of the biggest themes but there is positive movement on this, he explains, highlighting 300 applications have been made in the last year to move to Ulva.

He also points to the Young Islanders Network which he hopes will also be included in driving plans.

Image source, Getty Images

A National Islands Plan, external setting out the priorities for helping Scotland's islands has been proposed by the Scottish government.

Tackling depopulation, a lack of housing and the need for improvements to transport and health services are among the objectives.

The plan, promising a "framework for action" has been drawn up following consultation with island communities.

It comes about a year after the passing of the Islands (Scotland) Bill.

Read more here.

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Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse says the plan sets out the ambitions for Scotland's islands communities.

Mr Wheelhouse explains it is based on a very wide ranging consultation process.

He says it comes from the Islands (Scotland) Act, with Scotland being one of very few countries that has published island specific legislation.

It is a fair, integrated green and inclusive plan he insists.

Image source, Scottish government

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will shortly take evidence on the government's proposed National Islands Plan, external. MSPs will hear from:

• Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse
• Erica Clarkson from the Scottish government
• Heather Cowan from the Scottish government
• Don Morrison from the Scottish government

The proposed National Islands Plan sets a direction of travel for the Scottish Government and provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for island communities.

Read more here., external

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 13 November.

9:15am: MSPs will take evidence on the proposed National Islands Plan from Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse

12pm: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will answer questions from the Scottish Parliament's committee conveners

Image source, Andrew Cowan

2:00pm: Portfolio Questions: Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity; Justice and the Law Officers

2:40-5:00pm: Scottish government debate: Artificial Intelligence and Data Driven Technologies: Opportunities for the Scottish Economy and Society

5:05pm: Members' Business: Clare Adamson: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

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