Green MSP Ross Greer says Scotland's potential is not being harnessed in the way it should be.

He welcomes the government's STEM strategy to address this but he warns it is not enough without investment or an industrial strategy.

Emphasis on early years is essential because work in schools is often undoing damage already done, he adds.

He praises the Let Toys Be Toys, external campaign for tackling gender stereotypes in the toy and publishing industries.

Image source, bbc

Iain Gray says in the coming years we will need perhaps tens of thousands of STEM professionals to meet the needs of our economy and "we also know we need to start young".

The former STEM teacher says he returned to the classroom and taught primary school kids how to calculate the speed of light using chocolate buttons and an old microwave.

However for this school it was just a one off and it did not have the resources for individual pupils to carry out the experiments themselves, adds Mr Gray.

"We need to do an awful lot better when it comes to STEM education in primary schools than getting somebody like me in with a microwave to do that type of experiment."

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says more can and should have been done by government on STEM in the early years.

He highlights the report suggested there was a lack of confidence among teachers, particularly in engineering and technology.

It's absolutely vital we get children, especially girls and BAME kids, interested from an early age he adds.

Mr Greene also states schools must have universal access to what they need to teach STEM, including adequate internet and materials.

Image source, bbc

Several Scottish councils are warning they are finding it hard to recruit new science, technology and maths teachers.

A number have told BBC Scotland they have had fewer applications for teaching posts in these so-called STEM subjects than they had hoped for.

In some cases it has been impossible to fill posts and, as a result, courses or subjects have been dropped.

Scotland's largest teachers' union, the EIS, said any unfilled vacancy was a cause for concern.

Read more here.

Children Minister Maree Todd says STEM has never been more relevant which is why the strategy is supporting pupils of all ages to improve their STEM skills.

The minister stresses the importance of the Scottish government's STEM strategy, external in helping Scotland achieve its full potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ms Todd welcomes the STEM report in early years from the education committee and says the Scottish government has responded to its recommendations.

She says STEM skills can be nurtured in the early years through play-based learning.

"There is nothing I like more than practicing my pipetting skills at nursery," the science graduate tells the chamber, stressing the need to support learning in early STEM skills.

She is confident the continued excellent play-based learning in STEM in early learning and childcare will continue.

Education committee convener Clare Adamson says children as young as six often have an idea of the jobs they can do and what jobs are not for them.

These are regularly based on gender and social circumstances, and can therefore limit ambitions she warns.

The impact of unconscious bias and coming from a deprived background was a common theme through the committee's inquiry in STEM in early years education, the convener says

She says girls must be provided with the space to explore STEM.

Image source, Scottish Parilament

The Education and Skills Committee, external leads a debate on its inquiry into STEM in early years education.

The inquiry explored the extent to which STEM subjects are included in the learning experiences of those aged 3-7 and the impact that this has on young people including broadening their horizons, developing an interest in particular STEM disciplines and eventually leading to future careers.

Read the report here., external

The Scottish Rate Resolution is agreed.

There were 58 votes for it, 50 against and five abstentions.

Image source, bbc

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh reminds the chamber that if the Scottish Rate Resolution is not agreed to Stage Three proceedings of the budget can't take place.

But it will and they will so, join us tomorrow at 3.05pm for extensive coverage.

Image source, SPICe

The Scottish Government set out its proposals for income tax from April 2020 as part of the Scottish Budget 2020-21. The proposed rates and bands are shown below.

These proposals incorporate:

• A 0.2% increase in the threshold for the basic rate and a 0.9% increase in the threshold for the intermediate rate.
• No change in the higher rate threshold or top rate threshold, which remain at £43,430 and £150,000 respectively.
• Read more here, external

Image source, SPICe

Each of Scotland's 32 local authorities have been deciding their council tax for 2020/21. Councillors are able to raise bills by up to 4.84%.

Important points to note:

• All councils have the power to raise the basic council tax bill by up to 4.84%. This affects every band from A to H.
• Band D is highlighted as the average council tax bill for householders in Scotland.

See what is happening to council tax where you are.

Mr Rennie says the Conservative position on tax has been a "screeching U-turn", as they warned of a catastrophic exodus due to the changes brought about in Scotland.

He argues the Tories did not have the guts to put forward any tax changes in this budget negotiation.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader reiterates his concerns about the Scottish government's "deeply regrettable" capital overspends on infrastructure projects including the Sick Kid's Hospital and the AWPR.

The trust of the taxpayer must be repaired, but he fears that the government's "reckless" approach may not make that possible.

Image source, bbc

Willie Rennie agrees with Patrick Harvie that local tax reforms are needed and the council tax must be brought to an end.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says his party said there should be a modest penny on income tax for education in 2016.

He thinks if there is predictability about tax over the next four or five years, an element of trust will be developed which will prevent behavioural changes in the future.