Mr Leonard insists Ms Sturgeon is failing to support students properly and is letting them down.

The first minister reiterates her point that Scotland has the lowest level of student debt in the UK.

Ms Sturgeon says full-time students from the poorest areas receive more support than those from the richest areas.

She adds since the review of student support the income guarantee has begun, the higher education bursary threshold has been raised, as have bursaries for the poorest students.

Ms Sturgeon pledges to introduce more recommendations from the review.

Image source, Getty Images

The amount given in loans to Scottish students has more than doubled in 10 years, according to new figures.

Audit Scotland said students borrowed more than £500m, externalfrom the Student Loan company in 2018-19, compared with £187m a decade earlier.

Students from the most deprived areas typically borrowed more than those who were from the least deprived areas.

Scottish students receive free university tuition but can borrow money towards their living expenses.

Read more.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says the SNP came into office promising students they would dump the "debt monster".

But they didn't dump the debt - they dumped the promise, he says.

The Scottish Labour leader cites the Audit Scotland report highlighting soaring student debt.

He calls on the first minister to apologise for misleading students.

The first minister points out access to university is free of tuition fees, meaning Scotland has the lowest level of student debt of anywhere in the UK.

Ms Sturgeon says Labour should apologise for its record on student debt in Wales.

The Scottish Conservative interim leader asks for an update on public services rather than on indyref2 next week.

Ms Sturgeon insists £1.5bn in real terms has been removed from the Scottish budget in the last ten years.

Mr Carlaw says there are major safety concerns in the police estate, pointing out the ceiling in a Broughty Ferry station fell down as Mr Yousaf was dismissing them as hyperbole.

The Scottish Tory interim leader calls for assurances additional funding will be used to protect police numbers and improve the environment in which police officers work.

The first minister says the Scottish government will continue to protect the police service with the resources it has, reiterating funding increases.

Mr Carlaw says the one word the first minister did not use is "hyperbole", used by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf on Tuesday in response to concerns being raised about the police estate.

The first minister reiterates austerity has added pressure to the Scottish government.

She insists the government is protecting the policing budget, in contrast to south of the border.

Image source, bbc

From the Courier: , external

A ceiling in Broughty Ferry police station collapsed just hours after Humza Yousaf labelled criticisms of the force’s buildings conditions “hyperbole”.

The justice secretary has been locked in a heated debate over the condition of stations and tried to shrug off accusations resources are not fit for purpose.

Further evidence for station deterioration came close to home for Mr Yousaf when a ceiling in Brook Street fell through on Tuesday evening. Mr Yousaf recently moved to Broughty Ferry.

Demands have been made for the Scottish government to take action amid a claim from Police Scotland that some buildings are no longer fit for purpose.

Read more here., external

Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw begins by noting the Prince of Wales is in Israel to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Mr Carlaw moves on to the police estate asking what word the first minister would use to describe water pouring through ceilings and windows, and mushrooms growing in carpets in police stations.

Ms Sturgeon begins by agreeing with Mr Carlaw about the importance of marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

"We must all be determined to play our parts to make sure a horror on that scale is never allowed to happen again."

Ms Sturgeon suggests Mr Carlaw has a nerve to raise police estate, as the UK government's resource budget has reduced by £1.5bn since 2010 and robbed £125m from the Scottish police service.

She insists the annual police budget has raised to £1.2bn with the capital budget rising by 52%.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says all new policies are fully costed and discussed with local government.

Ms Boyack points to concerns about adequate funding for the rollout of free childcare.

Mr Mackay says he will continue to have discussions with local authorities, and indeed opposition parties, about the budget.

Image source, Getty Images

Councils are calling for an extra billion pounds from the Scottish government to stop cuts to local services.

The local government umbrella body Cosla says the government must "invest in councils before it is too late".

It also says there should be no government-imposed limits on council tax rises.

The Scottish government says it has done its best for councils despite "UK government cuts".

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks ask the Scottish government whether it has fully costed the policy commitments it has made that are to be delivered through local government.

Image source, BBC/PA/Getty Images

Click here for the full list of questions., external

Image source, bbc/Pa

11.40am: General questions

12pm: First minister's questions

12.45pm: Members’ business: Beatrice Wishart – The Proposed Centralisation of Air Traffic Control in the Highlands and Islands

2pm: Farmers and Crofters ministerial statement

2.30pm: Portfolio questions: Education and skills

2.50-5 pm: Stage 1 Debate: Consumer Scotland Bill

The convener asks about the training work coaches receive to ensure they are up to speed with all the changes.

Derek Kilday says the move to digital caseloads creates more time for frontline staff in jobcentres.

We take a significant time out of our week to upskill staff and ensure they are able to signpost, he adds.

Image source, bbc

Mr Brown asks if there is a UK counterpart to the obligation on the Scottish government to maximise the uptake of benefits put into legislation.

Mr Latto replies: "There certainly isn't a direct counterpart."

He points out there is a general principle of public law that we need to inform people about their entitlements, but there isn't anything that says a minister must report on uptake to Westminster.

Part of the reason is how you would demonstrate it, Mr Latto adds.

"It might be an idea," points out Mr Brown.

"Indeed, indeed," replies Mr Latto.