Image source, UK government

The veterans strategy, published in November 2018, is a UK-wide document supported by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.

It sets out a shared vision and principles with regards to veterans across the country.

But delivery of the strategy will look different in each part of the country, with each government tasked with gathering data to support implementation.

The overarching vision of the strategy was to ensure veterans and their families "transition smoothly back into civilian life and contribute fully to a society that understands and values what they have done and what they have to offer".

Read the strategy., external

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey is leading this afternoon's debate on support for veterans and armed forces communities.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Fair Work Minister Jamie Hepburn welcomes the aim to triple the number of living wage accredited employers in Glenrothes over a year.

The number has already increased from 11 when the campaign was launched to 18 now, he adds.

We are showing Scotland is trying to take the lead in creating a fair work nation and tackling poverty, the minister insists.

Image source, bbc

Mark Ruskell begins saying we all know a real living wage is essential if we are to ensure everyone has the bare necessities to maintain a basic standard of living.

"Glenrothes has proven that the living wage is possible everywhere in Scotland," says the Green MSP.

"It's great to see Glenrothes leading the charge here."

Image source, Getty Images

The National Living Wage is the legally binding hourly rate for workers aged 25 and over. It was set at £8.21 an hour in April 2019 and is reviewed every year just like the National Minimum Wage (for under 25s).

The real living wage was devised by charity the Living Wage Foundation. It argues the government's National Living Wage is not high enough to meet workers' needs and encourages employers to adopt to its more generous, independently calculated rate.

Labour MSP Claire Baker praises the employers involved in the campaign.

She expresses concern about precarious work and a culture of low wages.

The minimum wage is not sufficient to live on, it is the minimum that can be paid and employers should not use it as a starting point, she argues.

Image source, Getty Images

Thousands of UK workers will enjoy a pre-Christmas pay bump if their employer is a member of the "real living wage" campaign.

Businesses who have signed up to the voluntary scheme will lift their UK hourly rate by 30p to £9.30.

The scheme is separate to the statutory National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and above which currently stands at £8.21 an hour.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnson says campaigning to make Glenrothes a living wage town is a positive step.

Low pay remains a significant issue that we should unite in tackling, he adds.

The Tory MSP warns against jeopardising high employment and he adds real wages have risen across the UK's economy.

Ms Gilruth says mid-Fife has poorer outcomes in relation to jobs, health and deprivation compared to other areas in the region.

This is why the campaign to make Glenrothes a living wage town is important, the SNP MSP argues.

Not only does it help employees, research also suggests employers who pay the real living wage have seen improvements too, she adds.

Image source, Google

Employers on Glenrothes have joined together to make the area a "living wage town".

It would see more people in the town earning the "real living wage" of £9.30 an hour.

Fife Council has teamed up with Fife College, Fife Voluntary Action, Glenwood Hairdressing Salon and Landfall Scaffolding to launch an action plan to reach its ambition.

So far, 11 companies based in Glenrothes are signed up to the voluntary scheme, equating to 12% of Fife's workforce.

SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth is highlighting a campaign aiming to make Glenrothes a "living wage town".

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, PA Media

The Scottish government has ordered a review of how deaths in prisons are handled.

It follows the deaths of four prisoners in just four days.

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said the review aims to improve arrangements and communication with families of prisoners after their death, as well as looking at preventing suicides.

Findings are expected to be published next summer.

• Read more
• Four prisoners found dead within days at Scottish jails
• 'Stark reality' of prison suicide ignored claim parents

The minister says there has been additional investment in mental health staff in our prison estate, adding he has asked HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland Wendy Sinclair-Gieben to particularly look at HMP Polmont.

"I also take the issue of the mental health of our staff very seriously," Mr Yousaf adds.

He explains the government has worked very closely with the third sector about where they can step in to temporarily address the loss of throughcare.

Lib Dem Liam McArthur says self harm and suicide in prisons is increasing, and through-care has ended.

There was little in the statement that responded to these issues or addressed a "mounting" crisis in the prisons system, he adds.

He asks how many extra mental health staff there will ultimately be in our prisons.

The justice secretary disagrees there is a "crisis" in prisons, but accepts there are "challenges".

He highlights the prison population was falling before 2018 and he insists budget pressures are being kept under review.

I have asked SPS to come to me with proposals for interim measures for Barlinnie as its replacement will not be ready for a number of years, he adds.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP James Kelly says the report is indeed a serious one and highlights the "crisis of overcrowding" in our prisons, at the same time as the revenue budget has been reduced by £50m over the last four years.

The government's response to this has lacked urgency, adds Mr Kelly, who says the justice committee's visit to Barlinnie led to shock at the substandard conditions.

He asks what action will be taken to deal with the unacceptable position where over 90% of prisoners are being housed in double occupied cells designed for single occupancy.

The Labour MSP says there are only five cells for disabled prisoners, with only one that has wheelchair access.

Mr Yousaf accepts the report made for "grim reading" but the government will work and invest to bring down the pressures in prisons.

Serious prisoner on staff violence levels are falling, he says, but accepts one assault is too many.

Regarding body-worn cameras, he says unions were not particularly persuaded by their need, but he says he will keep an open mind.

On workforce planning, he says he has spoken to SPS about what can be done once the budget can be set.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says the auditor general's report made "pretty grim reading".

Mr Kerr cites the increase in assaults on staff and staff sickness days, as well as the loss of throughcare.

He asks what steps are being taken to address the lack of workforce planning and when can the SPS bring back throughcare.

The Tory MSP also asks if the minister will consider body worn cameras to protect prison officers.

On staffing, the justice secretary praises the part prison officers play and highlights the SPS employee wellbeing policy to support them.

He says HMP Inverness and HMP YOI Grampian are seeing an improvement in terms of the number of days lost to sickness.

There is no silver bullet to respond to the challenge of reducing the number of people in prison, Mr Yousaf says, but he offers to work on a cross-party basis to find solutions.

Image source, Getty Images

The chief inspector of prisons has said she is "very concerned" that the number of inmates in Scotland is starting to exceed capacity.

The prison population rose by 709 in the year to the end of March, from 7,413 to 8,122.

Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, said this 9% increase is equivalent to one additional large prison.

She warned the rise in inmates is putting extra pressure on the system.

Read more.