The problems facing Scotland's ferry network are again brought up at FMQs.

Lib Dem Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart MSP said cancelled bookings and sailings had created a "growing frustration" in her constituency, with local firms suffering "reputational damage".

Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged the importance of the issue and said short-term solutions, as well as longer term, freight-only ferry options, were being worked on.

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SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed points out that it is a week until the UK government end the £20 temporary uplift to Universal Credit, saying it will plunge 60,000 families in Scotland into poverty.

She asks the FM to join her in saying it is not too late to halt the move.

Ms Sturgeon says she thinks there has been nothing as "morally indefensible" as this cut to universal credit.

She says taking £20 a week away from the most vulnerable households cannot be defended in any way.

She asks the Conservatives in the chamber to "please try to persuade" their UK colleagues not to do this.

Progress on establishing buffer zones around abortion clinics is going too slowly, says Monica Lennon.

The Labour MSP claims "abortion rights are under attack" with women facing harassment from anti-abortion protestors when attending the clinics around Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon says there is "work to be done" on this issue but added that she is "a very strong believer in a woman’s right to choose" on abortion.

Edinburgh Labour MSP Daniel Johnson brings up the furlough scheme, which ends today, saying there are more than 100,000 people in Scotland who are still reliant on the payments.

He asks the FM if she thinks the Scottish government is doing enough to help those who find themselves out of work.

Ms Sturgeon says she will continue to do everything she can and continue to consider this on an ongoing basis and help low income families and the unemployed.

She says it would be better if we didn't have to go cap-in-hand to a UK government to ask for furlough to be continued. She says if Labour is serious about these issues they have to get into a position of giving the Scottish parliament the means to do what it wants to do.

Nicola Sturgeon says she will spend money from a new UK government scheme on families struggling with the cost of living.

Following the end of the £20 weekly top-up to universal credit, the UK government is introducing a new £500m grant scheme for the poorest families.

Scotland's share of this pot is about £41m and Ms Sturgeon said "every penny of that will go to support low income families" while criticising the UK government's policy choices on tackling poverty.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for the money to go towards enhanced winter fuel payment for pensioners, warning many face the choice between "eating or heating" this winter.

Image source, PA Media

Anas Sarwar says the Scottish government needs to do more to tackle what he describes as the “cost of living crisis” facing the country.

The Scottish Labour leader said using Holyrood’s existing powers should be a priority for helping the 613,000 people living in fuel poverty.

He added: “Warm words will be cold comfort for those who suffer this winter.”

Nicola Sturgeon outlined what her administration is already doing to help those on the lowest income and argued that using Scottish government budgets to “mitigate the impact of reserved policies” would “hit the devolved responsibilities we have hard.”

Douglas Ross continues his assault on the certification scheme, insisting Scotland is the only government in Europe pursuing such a scheme.

Ms Sturgeon accuses Mr Ross of changing his reasons for opposing the scheme.

She says she is left wondering what Douglas Ross does support to keep Covid under control, protect the economy and save lives.

Image source, PA Media

The Scottish Conservative leader says that if the FM had listened to people on the parliament benches, she would not be "introducing a scheme at five am tomorrow that can't be enforced for a fortnight".

He claims there are flaws in the vaccine passport scheme and he asks about a specific part of the regulations which the FM says she will follow up on.

Ms Sturgeon goes on to talk about evidence for going ahead with the scheme and quotes Prof Christopher Dye at Oxford University who agrees that vaccine certification is a useful device to support the vaccination programme in Scotland.

She says the virus is still doing too much damage and it is incumbent on government to take responsibility for limiting the spread.

Image source, EPA

Mr Ross claims it is a "ridiculous situation" that people will need a vaccine passport to get into some venues but if the music is turned off they will "suddenly not need a vaccine passport".

He says football fans will need to have checks in a short space of time without a public campaign advising of the procedures they will have to go through.

He says to people "in the real world", this looks like "a complete farce".

Ms Sturgeon says that people understand the reasons for this and will feel safer with measures like this in place.

She says that any organisation has a right to challenge the decisions of government.

The first minister also says all the steps and measures in dealing with the virus are "imperfect and far from ideal".

She says we cannot simply "wish Covid away" and have to take steps to get the virus under control.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's vaccine passport scheme will start on Friday as planned after a judge refused a legal challenge from nightclubs seeking to delay it.

People will need proof they have had two doses of vaccine in order to enter nightclubs and many other large events.

The industry lodged a legal challenge, saying the system was "discriminatory" and "disproportionate".

But Lord Burns said it was an attempt to address "legitimate issues" of the pandemic in a "balanced way".

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Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross goes straight to the vaccine certification scheme. He criticises the delay in guidance and the development of the app.

He suggests the FM should accept the scheme is "not ready" and should be delayed.

Nicola Sturgeon paraphrases the reasons why the legal bid to delay the introduction of the scheme failed at the Court of Session this morning.

She says that none of us wants to be in this position but that the scheme is a targeted and proportionate way to try and reduce harm through a "difficult winter" and keep businesses running.

She says she will continue to engage with businesses to make sure she is "listening and understanding".

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon was accused of using Covid as an excuse for long-standing issues with the NHS by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during last week's session.

Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar attacked the Scottish government over contracts not awarded to Ferguson's Shipyard which is under government ownership.

Since then we have had the fuel crisis and warnings that Covid hospital patients are getting younger.

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton is calling for Scotland's Covid-19 Inquiry to be "rooted in the stories of the victims".

And the UK government's furlough scheme also ends today.

Any of these topics could be up for discussion.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to BBC Scotland's Live Page coverage of FMQs on 30 September 2021.

As ever you can watch or listen to the weekly questions session from 12pm right here with us.

We'll bring you reports, analysis and reaction.