STANDARDISED testing for primary one pupils will continue, the education secretary has said, despite calls for them to be scrapped.

Opposition parties want the tests stopped claiming they put unnecessary stress on children at an early age.

Mr Swinney however said the tests provide valuable information for teachers.

He said: “I want that information to be available so that at the earliest opportunity we can act to close the attainment gap."

Labour and the Greens said the Scottish Parliament could vote to scrap the tests when the opportunity arises.

Iain Gray, Labour education spokesman, said: “Faced with the evidence of stress on four and five-year-olds caused by these tests, testimony from teachers that they are time-consuming and of little educational worth, and a campaign by parents to boycott them, he is carrying on regardless

“In Primary 1 at least, they should be suspended, I believe that is the view of the Scottish Parliament, and I hope we will have the chance to demonstrate that as soon as possible.”

Ross Greer Green MSP said: "In the case of P1 tests it's quite clear that a majority of this parliament want to see them go and sooner or later that is what we're going to vote for.”