That concludes our coverage of Holyrood on Thursday 8 October 2015.

Remember you can catch up highlights of this week at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live.

We will be back on the tomorrow morning, Wedneday 7 October, with more business from Holyrood.

Have a good night.

Youth and Women's Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing says it was not that long ago that female officers were being restricted to wearing skirts and carrying handbags.

Ms Ewing says she knows Police Scotland fully supports diversity in the force and as a result women are in all pivotal roles, but she accepts more needs to be done.

Image source, PA

She says the Scottish government is committed to equality across all of Scotland.

Youth and Women's Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing offers sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of PC David Phillips.

Image source, EPA

Labour MSP Elaine Murray says it is important not to forget that women are underrepresented at senior level in the police force.

Ms Murray says she would like to see gender equality lead to more young girls aspiring to being a policewoman.

• 1976 -Policewomen to be known as Constable, Sergeant, etc, rather than WPC, WSgt, etc, creating equality with male colleagues.

• 1986 -Amendment made to the Sex Discrimination Act enabling women to retire at the same age as men.

• 1995 -Promotion of Superintendent Sandra Hood to become the first woman in Scotland to hold the rank of Chief Superintendent, and be put in charge of a police division - she is later appointed as Scotland's first female Assistant Chief Constable.

• 2006 -Margaret Barr appointed Director of the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan - she is the first woman, and the first serving police officer, to hold the title.

• 2008 -Norma Graham became Scotland's first female Chief Constable, at Fife Constabulary.

• 2012 -Rose Fitzpatrick appointed as first female Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

Image source, PA

• 1915 - 1918 -Emily Miller joins City of Glasgow Police & Jean Thomas joins Dundee City Police.

• 1918 - 1919 -Chief Constables asked to consider appointing women within their forces "where necessary".

• 1922 -Chief Constable of Dundee City is forced to publicly deny he had a woman working as a Constable (even though he did have one).

• 1924 -On 14 June 1924, women constables granted the power of arrest.

• 1940 -Miss Jean Malloy was promoted to Detective Sergeant and became the first woman in Scotland to gain rank.

• 1954 -Miss Janet Gray is promoted to Chief Inspector - and later Superintendent - and for the first time, there are uniformed Sergeants.

• 1962 -Policewomen 'attached' to CID recognised as "Detective Constables".

• 1968 -Policewomen allowed to remain in post after marriage, with the intention of retaining experienced officers.

Lib Dem justice spokesperson Alison McInnes says challenges remain as over a third of women who responded to a recent Scottish police staff survey felt they were not being treated fairly at work.

Labour MSP Graeme Pearson begins by paying tribute to PC David Phillips and goes on to pay tribute to PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32, who were murdered in Manchester in 2012.

Mr Pearson, a former senior police officer pays tribute to the role of policewomen in Police Scotland.

He says: "The service now relies on women to deliver.

"It could not operate without women in its ranks."

Image source, Other

There is still much to be done by men and women in Police Scotland to bring about equality, Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes put an end to the notion of it being a man's world.

Ms Goldie says at least now women police officers are involved in every aspect of policing in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative MSP Annabel Goldie begins by pointing to the headlines about the police officer struck and killed by a stolen car during a pursuit in Merseyside.

PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by a pick-up vehicle that mounted a central reservation in Wallasey at 02:10 BST.

Image source, Merseyside Police

The married father-of-two had been trying to stop the vehicle, which was taken from an estate agents in Birkenhead.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Phillips died of internal injuries.

Merseyside Police has launched a murder investigation.

Ms Goldie says there is no such day as a safe day for police officers and she pays tribute and thanks all policemen and women for the role they carry out.

Ms Fabiani says the historic struggle women have had in the police force, and the way they have overcome the barriers put before them, is fascinating.

Scotland's most senior female police officer said there are no ranks or roles closed to women in the force in June.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick was speaking at a passing-out parade at the Scottish Police College.

Almost 40% of the course's recruits are women, the highest proportion ever.

Police Scotland were celebrating 100 years of women in the service - although female officers were not permitted to wear trousers as part of their uniform until the 1980s.

Image source, PA

Ms Fabiani highlights the diverse policing roles that women now hold and the positive role women officers have played, and continue to play, in keeping everyone safe in their communities.

Ms Fabiani says 2015 marks 100 years of women in policing, following Edith Smith being appointed in August 1915 as the first female officer in the UK with full powers of arrest.

She says this milestone is being celebrated by Police Scotland with a series of events around the country.

The East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani thanks the retired officers, Dorothy Parker and Barbara McInally for sharing their memorabilia and memories at a successful event in the town.

It was was hosted by Police Scotland Lanarkshire Division on 22 June.

SNP MSP Linda Fabiani leads a debate on 100 years of women in policing.

MSPs pass the amended motion from the Scottish government unanimously, with Labour's amendment being passed unanimously but the Lib Dem amendment falling.

The minister concludes saying says Our Islands Our Future took the opportunity of the independence referendum to look at how to improve governance of the islands.

Mr Mackay says there is an opportunity to take local government even closer to communities so islands can gain even better representation.

He says he is looking forward to the islanders' conference to make sure best practice is spread throughout the islands.

Caledonian MacBrayne and Serco were invited to start preparing their final bids for the new contract to run Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services in August.

The process to appoint a contractor to the ferries network has seen trade unions clash with CalMac and the Scottish government.

The RMT and TSSA unions had concerns the new contract would lead to job losses and affect pensions.

CalMac operates the ferry services but faces competition from Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited for the next contract to run the network for up to another eight years.

Image source, PA

Islands Minister Derek Mackay says the government will accept Labour's amendment but not the Lib Dem amendment.

Mr MacKay says the procurement exercise in relation to CalMac ferries must follow the European guidelines.

The minister goes on to say the government must work for all of Scotland's 93 islands.

Labour MSP Ken Macintosh says the proposals in the motion do not have the most bearing on islanders wellbeing.

Mr Macintosh says islanders want more say on the issues that govern their life.

Image source, BBC

Most of all they want the chance to work, live and prosper on the islands, he says.

He says there are fewer houses with affordable rent and this is a major issue for the islands.