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In 2017 Conservative MP Douglas Ross apologised for saying "tougher enforcement against Gypsy travellers" would be his number one priority if he was prime minister.

But Moray representative Douglas Ross insisted that the issue of illegal camps was an important one which people should not shy away from debating.

Mr Ross came under fire from human rights groups and the travelling community over the comments.

He said he did not have time to provide context in a "quick-fire interview".

Read more here.

Ms Wells says despite residing in Scotland for hundreds of years, it remains one of the most marginalised and isolated communities.

Social attitudes towards Gypsy/Travellers remain largely negative, she says, yet many people do not actually know a Gypsy/Traveller which means these attitudes come from second hand information.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart intervenes to urge the Scottish Tories to take action against any member who puts forward racist attitudes, specifically referring to comments made by current Scotland Office minister Douglas Ross.

Any form of racism or discrimination would not be tolerated by the Scottish Conservatives, Annie Wells replies.

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Tory MSP Annie Wells says a lot more work still needs to be done, so she welcomes the joint Scottish government and Cosla action plan.

Ms Wells says more needs to be done in terms of housing, education, employment and health for Gypsy/Travellers.

Green MSP John Finnie says he hopes to hear from the member about the "concerns expressed by the minister about the approach taken by the UK government, which is absolutely disgraceful".

Ms Wells says she will write to the minister with her views on that after the debate today.

All Gypsy/Traveller children and young people should benefit from our education system, the minister says, pointing to the Scottish Traveller education programme.

Another key action in the plan is to create a leaders programme to ensure local leaders can stand up for Gypsy/Travellers against racism, she says.

Ms McKelvie says it is important to develop solutions to problems with the community, ensuring they have their say and so government can respond when changes are not felt.

She criticises the UK government stance on Gypsy/Travellers, saying a current Home Office consultation proposes the increase police powers which would criminalise this way of life in England.

Davie Donaldson campaigns for better conditions and rights for Scotland's traveller community.

Last year he told the BBC: "In some cases the people living on the sites have described them as sub-human."

"We've had people from the community giving evidence in reports for years now.

"The government are very good at doing reports, but they're not very good at putting their hands in their pockets when it comes to fixing the issues."

Image source, Davie Donaldson

Mr Donaldson says the time has come to look at funding streams and ensure that money was spent on the sites.

"There hasn't been a new site built in my lifetime," he said.

"We have an accommodation crisis across the country. We have just short of 500 pitches for a population estimated to be 60,000.

"If this was settled community housing, there would be national outrage."

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Ms McKelvie says everyone has a right to a safe, secure warm home.

The minister says better accommodation is the priority of Gypsy/Travellers and she cites investment of up to £2m to improve existing public sites.

Council leaders will work with these communities to decide what the money will be spent on, she explains.

Gypsy/Travellers have said they are excluded from public services, the minister adds, and she outlines £400,000 in three innovative pilot projects to address access to health.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie says this debate is a change for the parliament to take a "united stand" against discrimination and prejudice which faces the Gypsy/Traveller community.

This community faces hostility and stereotyping as they go about their lives, she says.

"Now we have published the plan we must move from words to action."

Ms McKelvie says five key areas are covered by the plan:

1. housing/accommodation
2. access to public services
3. increasing incomes
4. tackling racism
5. increasing Gypsy/Traveller representation on boards

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A £3m action plan to tackle the discrimination and challenges faced by the Gypsy/Traveller community has been launched.

The plan, co-produced with local government body Cosla, will support a number of initiatives.

Local authorities will use £2m of the funding to improve accommodation and sites.

The remaining funding will go towards third sector children's education projects and health and social care.

A report published in 2018, external found a failure by some local authorities to provide sites for travelling people which meet government standards.

Read more here.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie leads a debate on how best to improve the lives of Gypsy/Travellers.

Green MSP John Finnie says he would like to see the Caledonian Sleeper in the public sector rather than with "that pernicious company".

Mr Finnie cites problems with the doors and windows, a significant health and safety risk he says.

When will this problem be fixed, the Green MSP asks.

Any safety issues are within the responsibility of the ORR (Office of Rail and Road), who are satisfied with the measures that have been put in place replies the minister.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says "clearly there are problems" and customers are unhappy.

He asks about conversations with the current operator on the potential for improvements or upgrades to the fleet.

Mr Matheson says he has engaged with Serco and senior executives within CAF (a train manufacturer) regarding the introduction of the rolling stock.

Retrospective techinical work has been undertaken and good progress is being made, he adds.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says the manufacturer did not provide enough vehicles in a service ready state.

Mr Matheson says the vast majority of complaints are about in-train service and are being resolved.

Mr Smyth asks why anyone should have faith in the Serco improvement plan and isn't it the case the government got it wrong in awarding this franchise.

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Mr Matheson replies the improvement plan does not relate to service on the train itself, rather it relates to issues like punctuality.

The Labour MSP says the performance level is closer to breach now and there are staff walking out due to stress and he calls for an apology to passengers.

The minister insists there are improvements in punctuality and wider service provision, and the overall picture is one that is improving.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth seeks a response is to reports that complaints about Caledonian Sleeper services have increased by 221%.

In December, operators of the Caledonian Sleeper admitted its service has been "unsatisfactory" following a "number of issues".

The acknowledgement comes after the service between London and Scotland was hit by strike action, technical faults and the late delivery of new trains.

Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd said an improvement plan was now in place.

Read more.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says measures should be more systematic, rather than on a case by case basis.

He says a growing city like Edinburgh needs investment in its schools.

Mr Swinney points to progress made by the City of Edinburgh Council on the issue and adds the government will be in discussion with the council regarding the next phase of bids for school estate funding.

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Education Secretary John Swinney replies the number of primary schools at or over capacity has risen by 35.4% since 2009.

Mr Swinney says the number of secondary schools at or over capacity has fallen.

Ms Wishart says there are 111 primary schools at or above full capacity.

The education secretary points out this is down since 2016 and he says since 2007 the number of pupils educated in schools in poor or bad condition has fallen from 37% to 10%.

We are taking a number of steps to ensure young pupils are taught in smaller classes, adds Mr Swinney.