Summary

  • First Minister John Swinney says sorry to a young footballer who waited hours for an ambulance after she broke her leg.

  • The apology came after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar highlighted the latest waits for treatment at A&E

  • Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay focused on economic growth, telling the FM about the business people who "despair" at the "anti-business actions of this SNP government"

  • Swinney says that growth has been stronger in Scotland than in any other part of the UK, adding that the situation could be even better if the country had independence

  • Last week's FMQs was dominated by former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross accusing government minister Jamie Hepburn of physically and verbally assaulting him after a row over problem seagulls

  • You can keep an eye on events in the Holyrood chamber by clicking on the Watch live icon at the top of this page from just before 12:00

Live Reporting

Edited by Paul McLaren

  1. Findlay questions Scottish government's 'innovation scorecard'

    Russell FindlayScottish Parliament TV

    Russell Findlay says the Scottish government’s “innovation scorecard” shows performance is declining and asks Swinney whether that is good enough.

    His question comes at the start of Scotland’s first Innovation Week, which is under way in Edinburgh.

    Swinney says economic growth is “central” to the government’s agenda and points to the games industry as a “sparkling example” of universities and businesses working together.

    He says it is one of many examples.

  2. Findlay focuses on the Scottish economy

    Findlay kicks things off by challenging the first minister on the government's economic performance.

  3. FMQs is about to get under way

    John Swinney is in his chair, and this week's session of First Minister's Questions is about to begin with an opening question from Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay.

    Stick with us for full coverage and analysis.

  4. Analysis

    What can we expect from FMQs?

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    FMQs will provide a welcome break for MSPs after a week of sitting into the evening to slog through hundreds of amendments to the Housing Bill.

    It’s probably going to come up again this afternoon of course, given Ross Greer has a question to the first minister as well as a keen interest in rent controls.

    But there will be space too for other topics – like the figures for A&E and alcohol-related deaths which came out this week.

    Cuts at STV News will inevitably come up at some point too. Angus Robertson was being quizzed about it in committee this morning, before any figures were even confirmed.

    The occasionally confrontational atmosphere of FMQs might allow MSPs to do some chuntering after a week of plodding through the legislative process – but the presence of ex-minister Jamie Hepburn on the back benches might be a reminder that venting steam can only go so far.

  5. What's been happening in Scottish politics this week?

    In another busy week in Scottish politics, the government has faced criticism over deaths linked to long waits at hospital A&E departments.

    The Royal College of Emergency Medicine claims more than 800 deaths in Scotland last year are believed to be linked to waiting time targets being missed. The government said it was investing £200m in reducing wait times.

    Elsewhere, outgoing Glasgow University principal Anton Muscatelli has called for a review of the funding and shape of higher education, warning against "stumbling from year to year".

    But there was some positive news for the government, as official figures showed alcohol deaths in Scotland fell last year to the lowest number since 2019.

  6. Will FMQs be as heated as last week?

    Jamie Hepburn MSP apologises to Holyrood chamber

    Last week's FMQs was dominated by a late intervention from former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, in what has since been dubbed "Seagullgate".

    Ross raised a point of order at the end of the session to accuse the government's minister for parliamentary business, Jamie Hepburn, of physically and verbally assaulting him in a Scottish Parliament corridor.

    It followed a row in the chamber after a discussion about tackling the problem of seagulls in towns and villages ran on.

    Hepburn later apologised to MSPs before resigning from the government.

    You can read more here

  7. Welcome

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of this week's First Minister's Questions.

    John Swinney will be fielding questions from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Labour leader leader Anas Sarwar, as well as backbench MSPs.

    We'll bring you full coverage and analysis throughout the session, which you can keep your eyes on by clicking the Watch live icon at the top of this page from just before 12:00.