Final day for MSPs at Holyrood ahead of 5 May election
MSPs piped out of Holyrood as parliament's fourth term ends
(about 4 hours later)
The final day of business is taking place at the Scottish Parliament ahead of the Holyrood election on 5 May.
MSPs have been piped out of Holyrood as parliament's fourth term ended with a final goodbye from the outgoing presiding officer.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will answer her last batch of questions from opposition leaders and back benchers at midday on Wednesday.
It was the last chamber session for Tricia Marwick who retired after 17 years as an MSP.
A motion of thanks will follow, with each party leader speaking.
The five party leaders lined up to thank the SNP-elected member.
It will be the last chamber session chaired by Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick who will be retiring after 17 years in the parliament.
That unifying moment followed the last First Minister's Questions to take place ahead of campaigning for the Holyrood election on 5 May.
She was elected an SNP MSP in 1999 and currently holds the Mid Fife and Glenrothes seat.
Party leaders began the day by offering their condolences to the people of Belgium following the Brussels attacks in which more than 30 people died.
Ms Marwick is among a number of members who are stepping down.
A book of condolence was opened for MSPs, staff and visitors to sign while flags are flying at half mast outside the Scottish Parliament.
For the SNP, they include former first minister Alex Salmond. However, he is not leaving politics for good as he continues to hold the Westminster seat of Gordon.
Ms Marwick, who was elected an MSP in 1999, was among a number of members who were stepping down.
On the Conservative bench, one-time Scottish leader Annabel Goldie is saying goodbye. But like Mr Salmond she is not disappearing from the political arena because she has taken a peerage in the House of Lords.
For the SNP, they included former first minister Alex Salmond. However, he is not leaving politics for good as he continues to hold the Westminster seat of Gordon.
Brussels attacks
On the Conservative bench, one-time Scottish leader Annabel Goldie has departed. But, like Mr Salmond, she is not disappearing from the political arena because she has taken a peerage in the House of Lords.
Former Labour health minister Malcolm Chisholm joined the first Holyrood parliament in 1999. He will retire from politics at this election, bringing to an end not only 17 years as an elected MSP, but nine as an elected MP.
Former Labour health minister Malcolm Chisholm joined the first Holyrood parliament in 1999. He retires from politics at this election, bringing to an end not only 17 years as an elected MSP, but nine as an elected MP.
Party leaders opened the final day by offering their condolences to the people of Belgium following the Brussels attacks in which more than 30 people died.
Ms Marwick has opened a book of condolence for MSPs, staff and visitors to sign while flags are flying at half mast outside the Scottish Parliament.
Ms Sturgeon offered "solidarity" to the people of Belgium following the "appalling, devastating, cowardly" attacks.
She added: "All of us benefit hugely from being a diverse, multicultural society, and we should cherish that.
The first minister said terrorists would not succeed and that "condemnation of terrorism unites people of all faiths, and none".
Labour leader Kezia Dugdale paid tribute to the emergency services who "run against the flow, towards the danger", while Conservative Ruth Davidson said the terrorists were "doomed to fail".
Lib Dem Willie Rennie added that terrorists "do not speak for people of Muslim faith, only their own distorted, cruel ideology", while Alison Johnstone of the Greens praised the "incredible resilience" of the people of Brussels.
MSPs will be piped out of parliament as the six-week election campaign gets under way.
Following the election, new MSPs will be sworn in on 12 May, and it has been announced that the Queen is to visit and address Holyrood on 2 July.
Following the election, new MSPs will be sworn in on 12 May, and it has been announced that the Queen is to visit and address Holyrood on 2 July.
