The National:

MSPs were left confused after Willie Rennie disappeared from a committee meeting this morning.

The LibDem MSP was at the Education, Children and Young People Committee at Holyrood for a one-off evidence session to discuss a recent spate in reported spiking, both of drinks and by injection, in Scotland.

Rennie asked: "What's come through very clear is the bigger threat is the use of alcohol, plying alcohol in to their victims in order to gain control. Is there a danger that the recent publicity over drug spiking, with a needle or in the drink, is actually giving an unfair or incorrect focus on that when actually what we want people to do is to be alert?"

After representatives from Girls Night In Campaign, Victim Support Scotland, Stirling University and Edinburgh University all gave answers to Rennie's question, Stephen Kerr – the Conservative MSP who hosted the meeting – said: "I know Willie Rennie wanted to come back in.

"I've guessed in the chat box that things may have moved on but I don't want to lose the point that Willie Rennie wanted to make because it's important to get everything on the record. Willie?"

The camera then cut to Willie Rennie's empty chair, and Kerr said: "Ah. He's not at his desk. That's ok."

Laughing, he added: "I should have checked with him before I said."