Good morning. The first item of business today is general questions. Short and succinct questions and answers would be much appreciated.

1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with national health service boards regarding the future integration of digital wards. (S4O-02215)

2. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to meet the increasing demand for software engineers suggested by recent surveys by ScotlandIS and e-skills UK. (S4O-02216)

3. To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in filling the equality evidence gaps in the equality evidence strategy 2013. (S4O-02217)

4. To ask the Scottish Government what recent advice it has received regarding membership of the EU should Scotland separate from the United Kingdom. (S4O-02218)

5. To ask the Scottish Government whether the Energy Skills Scotland project will provide job opportunities for people beyond the north-east. (S4O-02219)

6. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what matters were discussed. (S4O-02220)

7. To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for international development spending in Malawi. (S4O-02221)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to install automatic electronic defibrillators in secondary schools. (S4O-02222)

9. To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the role of communities should be in helping local authorities agree their annual budgets. (S4O-02223)

1. To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day. (S4F-01437)

2. To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister. (S4F-01434)

3. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on how an independent Scotland would maintain research funding for universities. (S4F-01440)

4. To ask the First Minister what impact the United Kingdom Government’s proposed spending reductions for 2015-16 will have on the Scottish Government’s budget. (S4F-01442)

5. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on recruitment and retention payments paid to senior management at the state hospital. (S4F-01449)

6. To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve treatment for people with dementia. (S4F-01439)

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-05957, in the name of Paul Martin, on community-based housing associations, building the community. The debate will be...

1. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking in light of the findings of Audit Scotland’s report, “Managing early departures from the Scottish public...

2. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the external security facility will be delivered on time and on budget. (S4O-02230)

3. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it has taken to ensure that people with a sensory impairment can take a full and active part when visiting the Parliament or...

4. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider procuring a resident cat as a humane mouse deterrent. (S4O-02228) Members: Miaow!

5. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what work is being carried out on the wooden spars—or shutters, if you want to call them that—on the Parliament building, at what...

6. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what reductions in energy usage have been achieved across the campus over the last three years. (S4O-02231)

7. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average number of customers using the Queensberry house lounge is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays before 4 pm. (S4O-02229)

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06798, in the name of Paul Wheelhouse, on the Crofting (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill. I invite the minister to speak for a generous 13 minutes.

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S4M-06889, on substitution on a committee. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees that Jackson Carlaw be appointed to...

There are two questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that motion S4M-06798, in the name of Paul Wheelhouse, on the Crofting (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill,...