Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes highlights regulation of banking is reserved but she expresses concern about this issue.

She commits to continuing to press the UK government and banks to ensure free access to cash is maintained.

SNP MSP John Mason asks about action in response to reports that ATMs are increasingly charging for taking out cash.

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Tens of thousands of people now have no local cash machines and the problem is getting worse, says the Association of Convenience Stores.

Because of fewer bank branches and the decline in free-to-use ATMs, many people rely on their local shop to withdraw cash, the ACS says.

But with the Link network cutting the fees it pays to cash machine operators, more of them are disappearing, it says.

Link must act to preserve access to cash in local communities, it adds.

Read more.

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Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse highlights the weather's impact on the ferry services.

Mr Wheelhouse says he regrets any inconvenience to passengers due to the cancellations and cites safety reasons for them.

He points out extensive disruption will take place again today due to high winds.

Mr Greene asks why there are so many issues with the ageing ferry on this route and Ardrossan harbour, and he ask about alternative routes.

Mr Wheelhouse accepts there are issues with the ferry fleet and argues the government is taking steps to procure new ferries from the Ferguson Marine shipyard.

He says there is an issue with Peel Ports about the condition of the Ardrossan harbour and points out Gourock is the port of refuge for the Arran service.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene requests an update on the ferry cancellations that have led to visitors being stranded on Arran.

Hundreds of visitors to Arran have struggled to make it back to the mainland after Calmac ferry services were cancelled.

The operator said high winds and a heavy swell meant ferries were unable to dock at Ardrossan and another route, with less capacity, had to be used.

CalMac said it managed to get 154 out of 217 cars off the island on Sunday.

Locals said it highlighted problems with ageing ferries and the facilities at Ardrossan harbour.

Read more.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says families of the bereaved will be appalled that the minister and the Tories are making a constitutional issue out of this crisis.

Mr Findlay calls for action to help the people who are dying from drugs only yards from this parliament.

The minister reiterates government actions being undertaken at the moment, including access to naloxone and work with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Mr Fitzpatrick insists this is a priority for him.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says the Scottish government has the power to do more than it is doing currently.

He asks about ending the imprisonment of people for using drugs and instead having police sign them up to health services.

Mr Fitzpatrick agrees there is a need to move away from a justice approach to a public health approach, but adds there is a need to see how this would work in practice.

This is one element the drugs taskforce is looking at he confirms.

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Tory MSP Annie Wells says she has written to the prime minister asking him to make drug-deaths his priority.

Ms Wells says this issue should be prioritised over a Section 30 order request or Brexit.

Mr Fitzpatrick says he would welcome the prime minister parking Brexit to address this issue.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick says the drug deaths taskforce will meet for the third time next week.

We will continue to pursue options available to us but we are also looking to work with the UK government on the matter, he adds.

Ms Lennon says there must be cooperation from both governments and public services to tackle the problem, saying there is a "desperate need" for residential rehab services.

Decisions on local services - including residential rehab - are made locally, replies the minister.

But he accepts it is important there are a range of services available for people who require it.

Mr Fitzpatrick insists safe consumption facilities "will save lives" but the levers to do this in Scotland remain reserved to Westminster.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon seeks a response to reports that drug-related deaths are continuing to increase.

Police have recorded 388 drug deaths in Scotland in the first six months of 2019 and a further 296 deaths are being investigated as drug-related, according to figures seen by the BBC.

Last year's annual statistics were the highest since records began, with 1,187 fatalities in 2018.

The rise prompted parliamentary inquiries and action by the Scottish government.

Read more.

Rev Sarah Nicol from St Cuthbert’s Church in Saltcoats is delivering today's time for reflection.

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2.05-2.20 pm: Topical Questions: Queries about drug-related deaths, ferry cancellations and ATMs charging for cash withdrawals will be asked during the first topical questions of the year.

2.20-2.30 pm: Urgent Question on the Scottish budget

2.30-5.00 pm: Empty Homes in Scotland debate

5.00 pm Decision Time

5.05 pm: MSPs celebrate defibrillator community partnerships

Asked by Tory MSP Liam Kerr about non-compliance, Fiona McMullen expresses concern about a victim of abuse who fears for their and their children's safety being punished.

Dr Scott agrees, saying safeguards must be put in because non-compliance with a contact order may not necessarily be the wrong decision.

Mr Kerr asks about sanctions or alternative dispute resolution.

Mediation is not a good idea where there is an imbalance of powers, replies Dr Scott, but accepts alternatives should be in place.

There should be a process for looking into non-compliance where it occurs, she adds.

Should protections for vulnerable witnesses be the same in criminal and civil cases and does this bill achieve this, asks SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor.

Fiona McMullen says the same protections should be in place, adding victims are "incredulous" this is not currently the case.

"It's really distressing to victims," she adds.

She calls for a default position on what is required to support vulnerable witnesses in civil cases in the same way there is for criminal cases.

SNP MSP Shona Robison returns to her questions about what the key features of any regulatory regime for child welfare reporters and curators ad litem should be, as well as for contact centres.

Fiona McMullen from ASSIST expresses concerns about the dynamics of abuse not being picked up in contact centres, citing the importance of training.

Ms McMullen warns that perpetrators of coercive control can be very clever and manipulate the system.

She also expresses concerns about victims having to pay for contact centres, which is "fundamentally wrong".

Dr Scott says she can't say how welcome it would be to have a regulatory regime for child welfare reporters, but calls for the training to be really good.

She adds we must not underestimate the harm that can happen in contact centres when the services being provided are inadequate.

I would be very concerned about this bill not demonstrating policy coherence with the Domestic Abuse Act, Dr Scott tells the committee.

Many of the same women impacted by that Act in criminal courts will be covered by the Children Bill in civil courts, she explains, adding we must not be naive that coercive control will necessarily be understood.

She highlights for many years domestic abuse that was not physically violent has been downplayed.

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Under the new legislation, child welfare reporters, who may be appointed when the court has been asked to resolve a dispute between parents, would be regulated.

This would ensure reporters are trained to understand and respond to issues such as domestic abuse and coercive control.

The Scottish government said other improvements include prohibiting a party from conducting their own case if there was a vulnerable witness.

Campaigners have welcomed the publication of the bill.