The next item of business is First Minister's questions.

At question number one, I call Douglas Ross.

Thank you very much, President.

Will the First Minister remind us what was the promise she made seven years ago about the attainment gap in Scotland schools?

First Minister.

It was to close the attainment gap over this Parliament.

I think at the time.

I made that commitment.

It was referenced as being within a decade.

I still remain committed to doing that and happy during the course of this question

and of course to talk about the progress that we are making.

Douglas Roch.

It was to close the attainment gap, not to keep it where it was, not to narrow it a little,

not to make some modest progress.

No, Nicholas Sturgeon wanted, and I quote, to close the attainment gap completely.

But figures published this week confirm that the attainment gap at

primary school is even wider than it was three years ago. It is wider for reading,

for writing, for literacy and for numeracy. The attainment gap isn't closing. Since

Nicholas Sturgeon made this pledge, there has been no progress.

Hasn't the First Minister failed to keep her promise to young people across Scotland?

First Minister.

No, and just to be precise, because I always like to be precise, the specific commitment that was made was to substantially eliminate the attainment gap.

...