• Deputy First Minister John Swinney took the questions in FMQs while Nicola Sturgeon was at COP26 in Glasgow.

• He faced questions about the crisis in the NHS, some prompted by the case of a man who died while waiting five hours for paramedics to arrive.

• Mr Swinney pointed out that demand on the ambulance service had almost doubled in three years.
• Politicians argued about how much the pressures on the NHS could be blamed on the pandemic.
• Communities hit by extreme weather will be "empowered" to become more resilient by the climate action town programme.
• Reports about vaccine passport scams prompted Mr Swinney to point out that the Scottish government does not text people asking them to apply for a Covid pass.
• Ministers have asked for a climate compatibility assessment from the UK government about its decision on the Cambo oil field.
• Work is under way to overcome "legal barriers" to drugs consumption rooms.

That's all from today's live page. Join us again next time.

Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker asks Mr Swinney for his response to comments made earlier in the week by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC.

She told the criminal justice committee, external that she could consider a “precise” and “specific” proposal for a drugs consumption room in Scotland.

The deputy first minister says the Lord Advocate's statement considers a "new opportunity" for fresh proposals regarding the safe consumption of drugs.

He adds that the government has been clear on the benefits that such a move would bring to tackle Scotland's drugs death crisis.

Mr Swinney says work is under way to overcome the "existing legal barriers" to progress the use of such facilities as part of a public health approach to the problem.

Image source, Getty Images

Green MSP Ariane Burgess expresses concerns about the proposed Cambo oil field in Shetland.

Earlier this week,campaigners warned that the proposed project could jeopardise hundreds of species and contribute to the climate crisis.

Mr Swinney says the decision about the licence is one for the UK government but he adds that ministers have asked for it to be subject to a "climate compatibility assessment".

He adds that if the development is approved there would be specific areas of dialogue around marine protection.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, says there is a "muscle memory to these exchanges".

"Week after week, opposition members ask about the crisis in emergency care and week after week the government respond by blaming the pandemic," he says.

He says it has been years in the making and only hastened by Covid.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says the number of staff hours lost to mental ill health was up 300% since 2017 – with 40,000 hours between July and September alone.

He asks the deputy first minster to accept that the government is letting vital staff down.

Mr Swinney says he values all the healthcare staff and says the government has put in place £12m investment to support staff wellbeing.

He says anyone diminishing the impact of Covid is not recognising the reality of the situation.

Image source, PA Media

SNP MSP Christine Grahame raises concerns about a vaccine passport text scam.

Mr Swinney says there are some reports of scam texts and calls related to the scheme.

He also urges people to read advice published online by Ofcom, external about how to deal with such approaches.

Image source, Bernie McAuley

SNP MSP Emma Harper highlights the recent flooding in Annan which washed away two historic footbridges.

She asks how the climate action town programme will help tackle the global climate emergency.

Mr Swinney says it will work to support communities and make them more resilient to extreme weather conditions.

He adds that the programme will "empower" locals to take decisions and secure the resources they require.

Mr Swinney says the government put in place a £300m NHS and winter care package across the health service back in September, such as recruiting 1,000 NHS staff and boosting pay of social care staff.

He says a "whole system solution" is required, including ambulances taking people to hospital and patients being discharged with social care needs support.

"The government is absolutely determined to make sure we use all of the resources available to us to make sure individuals receive the care they require," he adds.

He accuses Mr Sarwar of "skating past the impact of Covid."

Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, says 79% of NHS staff believe they are understaffed.

"Listen to NHS staff, don’t ignore them," he says.

"Covid can't be the cover," Mr Sarwar adds, and claims that Covid only exacerbated the problems in the NHS.

He asks Mr Swinney to commit to a maximum 30-minute turnaround for ambulances outside hospitals.

The deputy first minister acknowledges the constant trauma staff are dealing with and adds that it has been even greater due to Covid.

He says extra money has been allocated to support staff welfare but admits he is "troubled" by the survey evidence highlighted by Mr Ross.

Mr Swinney says: "I acknowledge there are significant demands and pressures on the Scottish Ambulance Service".

Mr Ross says now is the time for action amid reports that ambulance staff are at "breaking point".

He quotes a union boss who says staff are sending out their own 999 call to the Scottish government as they are undervalued and exhausted.

Mr Ross asks how ministers will respond to that call?

Image source, Getty Images

The deputy first minister says £20m in increased investment has been pledged and new ambulance service staff have been recruited.

But he adds that measures must be taken at every stage in the NHS, including boosting social care so people have less need to use the ambulance service and fast tracking patients through A&E.

Mr Swinney says such issues are the subject of "ongoing attention" by the health secretary.

Mr Ross says the "distressing case" of Mr Brown is not unique.

He adds that excessive waiting times are leading to avoidable deaths and lives are being lost that could have been saved.

Mr Ross asks if the Scottish government is doing enough to support the NHS in "its time of greatest need?"

Mr Swinney highlights the pressures the ambulance service is under by telling MSPs that in August 2018 it responded to 5,788 immediately life-threating incidents.

Last month that figure had almost doubled to 10,733.

He adds that additional investment has been made to boost capacity and prevent a repeat of what happened to Mr Brown.

Mr Swinney expresses his sympathies to the family of Richard Brown and says an investigation into the circumstances of the delay case is under way.

In general, the deputy first minister recognises the levels of demand being placed on the ambulance service due to the pressures facing the NHS across Scotland.

Image source, EPA

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross challenges Deputy First Minister John Swinney about the length of time people are having to wait for ambulances.

He highlights the case of a man who died while waiting five hours for paramedics to arrive.

Mr Ross asks: "Why is this happening in Scotland today?"

Mr Swinney is expected to face questions about the Scottish government's plans to widen its vaccine passport scheme.

On Wednesday, the deputy first minister said the scheme could be expanded to more hospitality and leisure venues.

But he also said the government was considering allowing people to show a negative lateral flow test result in place of a vaccine passport in the future.

Any changes will be confirmed at the next review of the restrictions on 16 November.

Read more.

Image source, @NicolaSturgeon

Welcome to our live blog on First Minster's Questions.

Nicola Sturgeon is attending COP26 in Glasgow and so her deputy John Swinney will stand in at Holyrood today.

The first minister has been pictured with a number of dignitaries during the second week of the global climate conference including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

But her most talked about encounter saw her present a can of Irn-Bru to US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Later today the first minister will take part in a session examining how vulnerable countries are responding to loss and damage.

You can follow today's FMQs using the tabs above.