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Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

All times stated are UK

  1. 'Humanitarian emergency'

    Ms Sturgeon describes the crisis as a "humanitarian emergency" .

    The first minister highlights measures worth almost £3bn which the Scottish government has already committed to this year.

    "Today I will set out further steps to mitigate the impact of a rapidly escalating crisis," she says.

  2. 'Most severe cost crisis'

    Ms Sturgeon says the programme for government is published in the midst of the "most severe cost crisis in our lifetimes".

    The first minister says: "This crisis is pushing millions into poverty, it is threatening the viability of businesses and it will almost certainly push the UK economy into recession."

  3. Nicola Sturgeon begins her programme for government

    The first minister gets to her feet to begin her programme for government.

  4. Sturgeon's programme for government is next - expect rent freeze announcement

    Houses

    In the next few minutes Nicola Sturgeon will get to her feet and is expected to announce a rent freeze for public and private rented properties.

    The first minister is to set out her plans for the year to come, with a focus on the cost of living crisis.

    This will include raising the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per week, applying to 400,000 under-16s from 14 November.

    And BBC Scotland understands a system of rent controls will also be introduced to shield household budgets.

    This would be similar to measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, and which Scottish Labour had been pushing for in recent months.

    Ms Sturgeon is also expected to call on new Prime Minister Liz Truss to act swiftly to tackle spiralling costs, while warning that inflation limits the ability of the Scottish government to deliver a full range of policies.

  5. Coming up...the programme for government

    Chamber
    Image caption: MSPs begin the afternoon asking topical questions

    Not long to go now before Nicola Sturgeon begins outlining her plans for the coming year.

    Before we get to the programme for government (PfG) we have a couple of topical questions.

    The first is on drug-related deaths and comes from Labour MSP Claire Baker.

    The focus will then turn to the Scottish government's troubled ferries contract with Ferguson Marine, this time the question will come from Tory MSP Edward Mountain.

  6. Nicola Sturgeon expected to announce rent freeze in programme for government

    Glenn Campbell

    BBC Scotland Political Editor

    A sign showing property to let

    Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce a rent freeze in her programme for government statement at Holyrood this afternoon.

    The BBC understands the freeze will apply to both public and private rented properties to help those struggling with rising household bills.

    The Scottish government took similar action during the Covid pandemic and has faced calls from Labour to do so again.

    The programme will also include an increase in the Scottish Child Payment to £25 a week and a range of other actions to help ease cost of living pressures.

    Nicola Sturgeon reads a book with a small child
    Image caption: The Scottish Child Payment is at the centre of Ms Sturgeon's package of support

    Ms Sturgeon is also expected to make clear that inflation will limit the ability of the Scottish government to deliver the full range of policies that it has committed to.

    More detail on that is expected in a separate financial statement by her deputy, John Swinney, at Holyrood on Wednesday.

    Scottish ministers have appealed to new Prime Minister Liz Truss to increase the cash available for devolved public services.

    Read more here

  7. Analysis

    Analysis

    Cost of living set to dominate future plans at Holyrood

    Philip Sim

    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    This is not going to be a normal programme for government.

    Usually at this stage in a parliamentary term, the first minister would be setting out expansive plans for future reforms, with a wide-ranging slate of legislation delivering on manifesto pledges.

    But this year, in the teeth of a growing cost of living crisis, we can expect a deliberate attempt to focus in on the immediate problems facing households and businesses.

    A decision was taken at the most recent meeting of cabinet to slash the overall size of the programme, with the document apparently going from about 160 pages to closer to 40.

    This is in part a move to underline how seriously and single-mindedly the government is taking the task of tackling rising costs and bills.

    It is also a reflection of the fact that inflation is making it increasingly expensive for ministers to do things.

    Read more here.

  8. Good afternoon

    Nicola Sturgeon

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Nicola Sturgeon's programme for government.

    The first minister is to set out the Scottish government's plans for the coming year, with action to tackle the cost of living crisis expected to be front and centre.

    The first minister's annual "programme for government" announcement at Holyrood coincides with a new prime minister being sworn in at Balmoral.

    What Liz Truss decides to do will have a huge bearing on the response to rising prices and fuel bills in Scotland.

    We should learn this afternoon what Scottish ministers intend to do within the powers available at Holyrood

    Read more here.