Mr Leonard says rising poverty, homelessness and affordability of housing is a real issue in Scotland.

He welcomes the tenant hardship fund, but warns it is not enough as it treats “symptoms” and not the causes.

He urges the government to accept Labour’s fair rents bill proposal.

The first minister says the government has legislated to reform the private sector and is providing protections for tenants. “We are open to further progress on that,” she adds.

She goes on to point to investment in social housing which will help to tackle housing issues.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says many aspects of the programme for government are welcome, including the jobs guarantee scheme and the bill on children’s rights.

He says he hopes the jobs guarantee will include a commitment on the living wage.

But Mr Leonard also says the chamber has heard promises about new green jobs before, but instead contracts have been awarded abroad.

“How do we know that this time we won’t simply go back to how things were?” he asks.

Ms Sturgeon says many of the levers on green energy, such as contracts for difference, lie with the UK government which makes some of the issues an “uphill struggle”.

She says we must use this opportunity to build a better economy, but she suggests there will “always be a flaw” in his arguments if many of the powers remain at Westminster.

Ruth Davidson says it was sadly typical of the government that the commitment to childcare is delayed but the commitment to a referendum bill is front and centre.

The Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader calls on the first minister to use the pause to ensure enough nursery nurses are trained to finally provide the 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare for all three and four-year-olds that the government is committed to.

Ms Sturgeon hits back pointing out many local authorities are already delivering the 1,140 hours.

The first minister insists the commitment to that policy is well on track, but Covid has posed challenges.

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland education correspondent

Image source, PA Media

The Scottish government has often said it wants to be judged on education – then came the pandemic.

The long term aims and ambitions remain but the immediate focus now is on the recovery of the education system and reducing the lasting impact on learners, especially the disadvantaged.

The programme for government includes a plan to spend £135m trying to ensure young people can catch up on lost education.

However it seems the key aim for now is, perhaps inevitably, on recovery and limiting the lasting harm. Positive progress may have to wait.

Ms Davidson points out businesses have had to foot the bill for adaptations they have made for the pandemic and once again if they lead to higher property valuation.

She calls for the first minister to protect businesses from higher rates bills caused by public health adaptations.

The first minister again says the government is looking to potentially delay revaluation, scheduled for 2022.

Ms Sturgeon does not want businesses being hit unfairly for having made adaptations.

"Anybody listening to me right now would get a fairly clear hint of the direction of travel," she says.

Ms Davidson points out £6.5bn has been transferred in Barnett consequentials from the UK government.

The Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader calls on the first minister to delay the business rates revaluation scheduled to come into force in April 2022.

The first minister replies: “Yes that is under consideration.”

Ms Sturgeon insists the government does not have large sums of money that has not been allocated and calls on Ms Davidson to say where the money should come from.

Ruth Davidson welcomes some measures like the investment in infrastructure and support for youth training, but says they "remain insufficient".

The Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader says: "It is disappointing that while her statement today ran to over 6,000 words, she missed out two... 'small business'."

Ms Davidson says Scotland's small businesses want reassurance and calls for support to her party's proposal for a hardship fund for firms hit by lockdowns.

"I absolutely understand the importance of small businesses to our economy," replies the first minister.

She says so much of the programme for government will help all businesses.

Ms Sturgeon pledges to consider all suggestions, but points out the Scottish budget is largely finite as the government does not have borrowing powers.

The most important thing the government can do for business is keep Covid suppressed, she adds, and then warns of the "disaster that will befall businesses if the furlough scheme is withdrawn as currently planned".

Ms Sturgeon concludes: “This is a Programme for Government which prepares us for what may well be a difficult winter.

“But it also encourages us to lift our eyes, find hope in our hearts, and plan for brighter days ahead.”

The bill to incorporate the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child in Scots law will be “one of the most ambitious pieces of legislation in the 20 year history of devolution,” Ms Sturgeon claims.

Public authorities will be required to act in ways compatible with the Convention.

She says: “The implications of this bill will be profound, far-reaching and long-lasting.

“It is a commitment that exemplifies the importance this government attaches to the rights, opportunities and future of all our young people.”

The first minister confirms the government intends to respond to the Black Lives Matter Movement through education.

She says: “We will sponsor an independent expert group to make recommendations on how to raise awareness of Scotland’s role in colonialism, slavery and historic injustice, and how it manifests itself in society today."

On housing, Ms Sturgeon says the ending homelessness action plan will be updated and Housing First will be scaled up.

Protection against eviction for rent arrears will be extended until March, she adds, while a £10m Tenant Hardship Loan Fund will also be created.

Ms Sturgeon announces £275m for community-led regeneration and town-centre revitalisation, with a particular focus on the “20-minute neighbourhood” concept.

Ms Sturgeon confirms a new Domestic Abuse Bill will be introduce before the dissolution of parliament, which will establish emergency protection orders to safeguard those at immediate risk.

This will be one of four new bills to be introduced in this parliamentary term, the others being:

• The Budget Bill
• a bill relating to medical and dentistry education at St Andrew’s University,
• a bill to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law

Seven other bills will continue to make their journey through parliament for the rest of the session, including the Hate Crime Bill.

She assures MSPs that the government will “listen carefully” to concerns about how this impacts freedom of speech.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms there will be a comprehensive review of adult social care.

This will examine options for a National Care Service – further details of which will be confirmed by Ms Freeman this afternoon.

“This is a moment to be bold and to build a service fit for the future,” she says.

On mental health, the first minister confirms the Distress Brief Interventions programme will be expanded across Scotland.

This provides support for people in distress without the need to get emergency clinical help.

The first minister announces £500m investment in active travel to promote more active lifestyles.

She also confirms the intention to deliver on the key recommendations of the drug deaths taskforce, including research into the high rate in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon also says there will be work to encourage healthier eating, and reducing harms caused by alcohol and tobacco.

Ms Sturgeon turns to the “rapid expansion of digital access to care” and confirms a video consultation service will be the “default option” for patients.

Video consultations will also be developed for use in social care, she adds.

A new 24/7 services by NHS 24 will allow patients not in need of emergency care to access assessments by phone or online before going to A&E.

The first minister explains the aim is to “provide as much care and treatment as possible in communities and close to home”.

Image source, Getty Images

Turning to the NHS, the first minister confirms a Patient Safety Commissioner post will be established - in response to the recent review on vaginal mesh implants.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will give parliament more details of this next week.

And as NHS services begin to return to normal, Ms Sturgeon says there will be a focus on reforming services in light of the pandemic.

She confirms a National Cancer Recovery Plan will be published in the autumn to drive improvement, particularly through the early detection centres.