Good afternoon, everyone. The first item of business this afternoon is consideration of business motion S4M-07154, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on behalf the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out...

We move to portfolio questions. In order to get in as many members as possible, I would prefer short and succinct questions and answers, please.

1. To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a mechanism for insisting that local authorities follow Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People’s guidance on...

2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered issuing maximum travel times for journeys to school in rural and island areas. (S4O-02293)

4. To ask the Scottish Government what provision is made in local authority schools for access to educational psychology services. (S4O-02295)

5. To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on college mergers in Glasgow. (S4O-02296)

6. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to avoid colleges being reclassified as public bodies. (S4O-02297)

7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with universities when they are replacing senior posts, such as principals. (S4O-02298)

8. To ask the Scottish Government how it will promote a more diverse school education system. (S4O-02299)

9. To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting the employability fund to colleges and training providers. (S4O-02300)

10. To ask the Scottish Government what progress there has been in respect of further education college mergers in Glasgow. (S4O-02301)

11. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of probationary teachers finding employment. (S4O-02302)

12. To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the conclusions on childcare and early years education in the Equal Opportunities Committee’s report, “Women and...

13. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported comments of Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and other panel members of the review of higher education governance in...

14. To ask the Scottish Government what savings will be made as a result of the merger of Langside, Anniesland and Cardonald colleges. (S4O-02305)

15. To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the regionalisation of Adam Smith College and Carnegie College. (S4O-02306)

16. To ask the Scottish Government what further and higher education is doing to support sustainable economic development through engineering and other fields of study. (S4O-02307)

17. To ask the Scottish Government how the curriculum for excellence will ultimately generate the skills necessary for the growing renewables industry. (S4O-02308)

18. To ask the Scottish Government how important classroom assistants are in enabling young people to achieve their full educational potential. (S4O-02309)

The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill as amended at stage 2, the marshalled list...

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-07108, in the name of Michael Russell, on the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S4M-07139, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. Motion moved,...

The next item of business is consideration of three Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Joe FitzPatrick to move motions S4M-07144, on the designation of a lead committee; motion S4M-07145, on the...

There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that motion S4M-07108, in the name of Michael Russell, on the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill,...

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-06389, in the name of Duncan McNeil, on the 40th anniversary of Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland). The debate...

Michael Russell has identified an error in his contribution and provided the following correction. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell): At col 21547,...