Disability sport and participation debatepublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Scottish government will now lead a debate focusing on participation in disability sport.
Summary
Nicola Sturgeon faces questions from opposition leaders and backbench
Carlaw and Sturgeon clash over education and the recent Pisa statistics
Leonard raises resignation of Susan Deacon from the SPA; FM insists progress is being made
FM agrees to consider request from Harvie for Mossmorran to remain closed over Christmas
Rennie and Sturgeon disagree on whether policing is in crisis
Backbench MSPs ask about the disability employment gap, an increase in cancer diagnoses and ScotRail fares
Disability sport and participation debatepublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
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End of X postThousands more seats on trainspublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Mr Matheson says the new timetable will see thousands of new seats being delivered.
Ms Hamilton welcomes extra carriages but expresses concern about evening peak services not being increased in terms of carriages.
The transport secretary says across the whole of the day there will be an increase in capacity.
ScotRail is seeking to make the greatest use of the rolling stock it has, he adds.
Is ScotRail on track for the festive season?published at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, ScotRail trainTory MSP Rachael Hamilton asks the Scottish government what action ScotRail is taking to prepare for the festive season.
Postpublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
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End of X postConcerns about plans to scrap X1 service in Lanarkshirepublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Michael Matheson says his officials have started engagement with the view of commencement of the regulations in 2020.
Ms Lennon calls for the public to be put in the driving seat not big bus businesses, citing the X1 service.
A petition has been launched to stop First Bus scrapping the X1 service from Hamilton to Glasgow.
The transport secretary points out the Transport Act provides for provisions for the local authority to address issues like this.
Bus services questionpublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, Getty ImagesLabour MSP Monica Lennon asks the Scottish government when it will publish guidance on the provision of bus services by local authorities
Ministers want to halt the decline in bus use in Scotland, after passenger numbers fell by 10% over five years.
The Transport (Scotland) Act will give local councils and regional transport partnerships (RTPs) more flexibility to improve services, either by working with bus companies or by stepping in and running services themselves.
The Scottish Parliament, external voted to pass the Transport (Scotland) Bill, external on 10 October 2019.
It includes new local franchising powers, and requirements on bus operators to provide more information to the public about routes, timetabling and fares.
Portfolio questions: Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivitypublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, bbc/Getty images/PaComing up this afternoon...published at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, Getty ImagesChamber business resumes at 2:30pm with portfolio questions on transport, infrastructure and connectivity.
Then MSPs celebrate disability sport and participation in the final debate of the week.
WATCH AGAIN: FMQs on education, policing and Mossmorranpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
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End of X post 4Background: ART In ACTIONpublished at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, bbcImage caption, Art in Action
Art in Action is a campaign from Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) which aims to champion the valuable role visual art plays within communities across Scotland – and to call for stronger recognition of this value when it comes to decision-making.
Over the summer recess MSPs were invited to see for themselves the positive impact of visual art in their constituencies.
They were encouraged to share their experience via social media using#ArtInAction– and to make a public commitment to support artists and art in their communities.
Here's the motion.....published at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, Scottish ParliamentSCAN Art in Action Campaign debatepublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Image source, SCANImage caption, SCAN
MSPs have been debating the SCAN Art in Action Campaign.
The Scottish Contemporary Art Network, external’s Art in Action campaign led to meetings with MSPs to champion the role of visual art in communities
Postpublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
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End of X postWATCH AGAIN: Rennie and Sturgeon disagree over policepublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
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End of X postBalance must be struck between fares and funding for servicespublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
The first minister says no increase in rail fares is ever welcome by the travelling public.
She highlights the fact that fares are 20% cheaper on average than they are in the rest of Great Britain.
Mr Smyth says Abellio has never hit a single punctuality target so why are passengers being hit by another fares hike.
The first minister says two-thirds of the cost of running rail is met by the Scottish government.
A balance must be struck in providing funding for services while keeping fares low, she adds.
The Scottish government will continue to take forward long-term plans, including the possibility of a public sector bid on the franchise in the future, she says.
ScotRail fares increasespublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Labour MSP Colin Smyth asks about ScotRail fares increasing in January.
Image source, PA MediaMillions of commuters will have to pay an average of 2.7% more for rail tickets from 2 January.
The average increase in Scotland will be 2.4%.
The rise, announced by industry body the Rail Delivery Group, is lower than the 3.1% increase at the start of 2019.
Train companies say this is the third year in a row that average fares have been held below the benchmark inflation measure on which rises are based.
But many commuters will still face an increase of more than £100 in the annual cost of getting to work.
Call for PET scanner for the Highlands and Islandspublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Labour MSP David Stewart asks about the need for a PET scanner in the Highlands and Islands.
The first minister says all of these issues will be considered in the capital investment programme and she commits to ensuring people get access to care close to home.
FM says government trying to ensure staff to treat cancerpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
The first minister says this is due to the ageing population and improved detection, through the detect cancer early and screening programmes.
Ms Sturgeon says the government is working to ensure the right staff are in place to respond to this.
Mr Greene says MaMillan Cancer figures show a quarter of a million people are living with cancer in Scotland.
The Tory MSP argues that in the recent cancer patient survey, 40% of patients felt they were not getting enough support and nurses are feeling increasingly under pressure.
The first minister says every cancer patient should get the quality of care and support they need.
Ms Sturgeon says since 2006 there has been an 80% increase in consultant oncologists working in the NHS.
She says the government is working towards ensuring every single cancer patient has a dedicated support worker.
Cancer diagnoses increasepublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2019
Tory MSP Jamie Greene seeks a response to a recent study from Macmillan Cancer Support, which suggests that there has been a 15% increase in cancer diagnoses since 2015.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlmost a quarter of a million people are now living with cancer in Scotland, new analysis has revealed.
Macmillan Cancer Support has urged the Scottish government to show it can meet demand to support patients when the NHS is already facing staff shortages.
The charity used national cancer registry data to calculate the figures.
The number of people living with the disease or its aftermath is expected to reach 300,000 by 2025, a rise of more than a third in a decade.