Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw says last summer exam results showed exam results had dropped for the fourth year in a row.

At the time Education Secretary John Swinney said the results showed a strong performance.

Does the first minister agree with that assessment, he asks.

The Nicola Sturgeon argues, in terms of exam results, there is still a strong performance.

Image source, Getty Images/PA Media/BBC

The full list of general questions is here., external

Nicola Sturgeon will be quizzed at first minister's questions from noon, just after general questions.

After yesterday’s SNP-Green budget deal was announced, the general principles of the Budget Bill will be agreed to this evening.

The Stage 1 debate kicks off at 2.50pm and the vote will be at 5pm.

Image source, Getty Images

Also today:

• First minister’s questions
• Education Secretary John Swinney will make a statement on the exam performance paper published last week (and probably the remit of the review published yesterday) at 2pm

There's also a debate on war memorials at lunch and health ministers face portfolio questions.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Willie Coffey asks if the Scottish government is satisfied enough progress is being made in terms of IT and the recommendations of Policing 2026.

Policing 2026: Our 10 year strategy for policing in Scotland, published in 2017, outlined plans to cut officer numbers by 400.

• Read more here.

Updates to the strategy are necessary due to COP26 and Brexit, Mr Johnson.

He adds he is "very pleased" with progress being made on Police Scotland's IT.

The committee draws to a close.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr raises Susan Deacon's comments this morning about the "deafening silence" from the government on the auditor general report.

Paul Johnston says the government welcomes discussions on the detail of the report and says work is underway to pick up recommendations.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says activity and commentary is not enough, asking why are we so bad at workforce planning.

The Scottish government representative says there is recognition of the need for robust workforce planning across public services.

Mr Sarwar points to late plans, never mind them being implemented, asking what the government will do.

Mr Johnston assures members the government is giving real priority to this and is pleased the police are giving it priority too. He points to support and challenge in place through internal audit functions.

Image source, bbc

Susan Deacon resigned as chairwoman of Scotland's police watchdog, saying the system is "fundamentally flawed".

The former Labour MSP was appointed to the Scottish Police Authority in 2017.

But in her resignation letter, she said there was "little more" she could do to make the governance and accountability of policing work effectively.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon rejected opposition claims the police service was "in crisis" and said the SPA would continue to make improvements.

Prof Deacon was the third person to chair the SPA since it began work in April 2013 alongside the launch of Scotland's single police service.

• Read more here
• Police Scotland is facing an "unsustainable" financial deficit
• The SPA's turbulent beginnings
• Police complaints system 'should be speeded up'
• 'Unacceptable' failings at police body

Claire Hicks says she is certainly not saying a review is unnecessary but the term "review" can mean a number of things.

Sponsorship of the SPA is a small part of the work of the police division of the Scottish government, Ms Hicks adds.

She says 39 people work in the department and three people in the team do the direct sponsorship of the SPA and three more look at finance.

Mr Johnson says the justice secretary will appoint the chair of the proposed governance round table and it will sit in the following weeks or months.

SNP MSP Alex Neil highlights the number of people and organisations backing a review of governance.

When will we get a definitive decision from the government.

Paul Johnston says the government is considering it but it is not for him, as a civil servant, to say anything further.

Who will play the "knights" on the Round Table to Humza Yousaf's King Arthur, asks Mr Neil.

Mr Johnston confirms Police Scotland, the SPA, HMICS, the Pirc, the Scottish government and Audit Scotland have all being invited to take part.

Committee convener Jenny Marra introduces:

• Paul Johnston from the Scottish government
• Clare Hicks from the Scottish government

Image source, bbc

Mr Johnston says the government has listened to the concerns of the auditor general.

He details consideration of the issues being undertaken, including the establishment of a round table to involve all of the key parties involved.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone tells the committee the approach to IT development has been completely changed.

We don't have a single crime reporting system in Scotland, due to the previous IT system he explains.

He says mobile devices are being rolled out to officers as opposed to notebook and pen and the 2026 strategy is supported and has been refreshed.

There's good evidence of steady progress being made, he argues.

Mr Livingstone says changing legal lines of accountability would improve understanding of finances.

The governance and accountability arrangements work but I don't think they work as well as they should, he tells MSPs, suggesting it would be worth "pausing and having a review".

SNP MSP Alex Neil asks about accountability, noting a call on the last session to review how the various policing bodies work together on governance.

Iain Livingstone says he feels he is accountable to the people of Scotland.

I don't feel a lack of accountability organisationally or personally and I don't feel a lack of scrutiny he tells the committee.

I'm highly accountable to the Lord Advocate and law officers, through the mechanisms of the 2012 Act, through the SPA and to the parliament he adds.

The chief constable explains he is primarily accountable to the SPA but does not feel that is exclusive.

Image source, bbc

Scotland's chief constable points out we host Euro 2020 and COP26 this year.

Mr Livingstone says any decision to step back from the number of police officers we have at the moment would have been imprudent to say the least.

Image source, SNS

He points out the Scottish government has committed to underwrite the projected deficit.

We still don't know consequences of Brexit and we may then reduce number of police officers to get the right mix next year, he adds.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says Audit Scotland estimated Police Scotland would need an additional £40-50m to avoid losing 750 officers.

Yesterday's draft budget deal announcement suggested the police service would be getting £60m, but that conflates the resource and capital budgets, Mr Kerr adds.

Mr Kerr says in real terms the extra cash amounts to £29m for resource and £4m for capital.

He asks: "Bluntly, can you preserve the numbers?"

The budget numbers announced will still leave an operating deficit in revenue terms of £36m, replies Iain Livingstone.

In terms of capital our ask was £74-75m and the capital is now at £50m he elucidates.

The chief constable welcomes the increased capital but says there will still be a recurring deficit.

Mr Sarwar asks if there are enough people to adequately workforce plan and if there is enough expertise in place.

Scotland's chief constable replies yes, the right people have been recruited and people who deliver the service have been heavily involved.

"It has been challenging and it's not where I would like it to be."

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar asks when there will be a comprehensive workforce plan for Police Scotland.

The chief constable first clarifies the person looking into this works for Police Scotland, not the NHS, though they did previously work with the health service and abroad on workforce planning matters.

Iain Livingstone says the service had been obligated to maintain the 17,234 number and as a result planning was not given the priority it should have been.

We initiated the work about a year ago, he says, with recruitment having happened.

He explains the first cut of the plan to be available towards the end of 2020, around October/November.