Today’s session was characterised by remarkably lengthy
exchanges between the party leaders. John Swinney spent 27 minutes going back
and forth with Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar.
That meant backbench members had to rather rush through
their questions in the remaining time – something which will have irked
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who wants as many MSPs to be involved as
possible.
Having dominated the session, each of the parties will feel
they got across some of their key messages.
The Conservatives contend that the Scottish government is
doing a poor job of running public services. Ministers reply that economic
turmoil and instability are entirely the fault of the UK government, while SNP
backbenchers tee up attacks on the Tories.
Labour meanwhile seek to hammer the performance of both the
Holyrood and Westminster administrations, and cast themselves as a responsible
alternative.
In that regard, Mr Swinney was an extremely able deputy for
Nicola Sturgeon; the session was more or less indistinguishable from the one
which would have played out were she present.
'It's a bit rich for Tories to call for higher spending' - Swinney
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Moving on, Conservative MSP Graham Simpson highlights comments by Highlands and Islands Enterprise that cheaper air travel for business passengers could help to strengthen the viability of island routes.
Mr Simpson says investment could make sure more islanders are not forced to move away for professional reasons.
John Swinney says "it's a bit rich" and hypocritical for the Tories to call for higher expenditure when seven weeks ago they were demanding he cut taxes.
NHS recruitment totally undermined by Brexit - Swinney
In response to Mr Sarwar's final question, the deputy first minister repeats that the Scottish government's ability to recruit staff has been "totally undermined" by Brexit and the Conservative government.
Mr Swinney says that by refusing to address this, Labour leader Keir Starmer is taking the same line as the Tories and that is an "absolute disgrace".
He says international recruitment by the Scottish government is "ethical".
Mr Swinney acknowledges huge pressures in the NHS, which he puts down to the strain of recovering from the Covid pandemic.
He adds that the Scottish government will continue to support the NHS.
Anas Sarwar says NHS is worst it has ever been
Anas Sarwar seeks to clarify his position on Sir Keir Starmer's comments on the NHS and immigration.
He says migrants play an "invaluable part" in our NHS. And he points out that people who come to work in the NHS are not migrants, they are "equal scots just like the rest of us".
The Scottish Labour leader says that should not stop us having a credible workforce plan that means we train more doctors and nurses here.
He asks Mr Swinney if everything is so rosy why are nurses going on strike for the first time in their history.
"Does the deputy first minister accept that the NHS has not faced a crisis like this in its history, that it is the worst it has ever been and it is all happening on the SNP's watch?," he asks.
Anas Sarwar has now led his questions on health in six of
the last eight weeks.
This is an effort to latch on to a core devolved
responsibility, not only to hold the government to account but to give his own
leadership a clear position and purpose.
He returns to the same theme “week after week”, in his own
words, to hammer home his message – that problems in the NHS had been in the
making long before the pandemic, and “all on the SNP’s watch”.
John Swinney also had some bigger-picture themes in mind in
his responses.
The SNP are wary of Labour mounting any kind of recovery,
and take every opportunity they can to link their rivals to Brexit or compare
them to the Tories.
And the deputy first minister was likely delighted to have
an opening to bring up Sir Keir Starmer’s recent comments about the role of
immigration in NHS staffing, which the SNP see as a major own-goal by the UK
Labour leader.
Swinney hits back at Starmer's NHS staff comments
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar agrees that we are in the middle of an economic crisis made by a "rotten Tory government at Westminster".
However, he says there has been a decade of failure in staff planning in the NHS.
He adds that there are record vacancies in the health service and these staff shortages risk patient safety.
The deputy first minister says record levels of staffing must be a product of workforce planning.
Scottish labour leader says nurses are under-valued and under-resourced
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also questions Mr Swinney on nurses.
He says they have been underpaid, under-valued and under-resourced since well before the Covid pandemic.
Mr Sarwar adds that the staffing crisis relates to decisions made over the past decade.
The deputy first minister points out there are today record staffing levels in the NHS.
He says they are the product of sustained investment despite the climate of austerity in which they have been operating.
Mr Swinney adds that the Scottish government is limited by financial pressures but will do everything in its power to support the NHS workforce and ensure there are enough staff.
'Stop using the pandemic as an excuse'
Douglas Ross concludes by saying the Scottish government is using Covid to cover its failures.
He says the situation at, for example, Forth Valley health board has been described as "a million times worse than before the pandemic".
"Stop using that as an excuse and start dealing with things," he says, adding "Humza Yousaf has failed."
'Improvements are being made'
John Swinney supports Humza Yousaf's claim that "elements of improvement are being made". He looks to back this up with figures revealing increased investment in the past two years.
He says he accepts that challenges exist in the health service but also pays tribute to staff who are working "phenomenally hard on the back of a pandemic which has put huge strain on our health service".
Scotland has best performing A&E system in UK, says deputy FM
Mr Ross says it is the 14th time since Humza Yousaf became health secretary that waiting times have hit their worst ever level.
John Swinney hits back that Scotland has the best performing A&E system in the UK.
"That's why we have have offered NHS staff in Scotland the best pay deal of any system in the United Kingdom," he adds.
The NHS is on its knees - Ross
Douglas Ross quotes the Royal College of Nursing saying that after "months and months and months of talks" it has got to the stage that nursing staff have to stand up, not only for themselves, but for their patients as well because the government is not listening.
Mr Ross says it is now beyond doubt that the health secretary has failed.
He adds that statistics, including those around missed A&E waiting time targets, confirm that the NHS "is on its knees".
Nursing strikes was really the obvious topic for leaders
this week, and Douglas Ross opted to shoot for the open goal.
He came equipped with some quotes from a nurse – a standard
technique to make ministers answer to a member of the public rather than a political
opponent.
John Swinney is well placed to cover the detail of this
issue of course, given he’s the money man.
As finance secretary he’s the one who set out the recent
emergency budget review, and warned that there was no more cash to fund pay
deals.
He deployed another standard technique – to respond to
criticism by praising NHS staff and stressing the impact of the pandemic.
It’s another minister that opposition parties have in their
sights though. Labour have been homing in on Health Secretary Humza Yousaf for
weeks, and the Conservatives have now joined in calling for his head.
Government 'entirely focused' on NHS challenges
Mr Swinney says the health secretary has also been actively involved in addressing challenges such as delayed discharge.
Quote Message: I assure Mr Ross that, on all issues, the government is entirely focused to make sure that we address the challenges we face." from John Swinney Deputy first minister
I assure Mr Ross that, on all issues, the government is entirely focused to make sure that we address the challenges we face."
Swinney- We have put forward a record pay deal
Mr Ross asks John Swinney what the health secretary Humza Yousaf has done to address the concerns of NHS staff about workload and funding.
Mr Swinney says he recognises the concerns of staff through the ballots that have taken place.
"There have been extensive negotiations that the health secretary and I have been involved in to try to resolve the pay deal," the deputy first minister adds.
He insists the Scottish government has put forward a record pay deal which, on average, would give staff a 7% increase.
Ross opens with nurses' strike action
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Douglas Ross begins FMQs by raising the issue of nurses in Scotland voting to go on strike for the first time ever.
He says, as well as pay, staff are "incredibly worried about the crisis in Scotland's health service".
Mr Ross highlights a warning from the Royal College of Nurses that "things are not safe for patients".
John Swinney doesn’t get to take First Minister’s Questions
all that often - but you can tell that he relishes these rare occasions.
The deputy first minister is no stranger to tough questions.
He’s regularly sent out to do the most difficult interviews and defend the
government’s handling of events.
Other ministers are sent on a media round to announce
things; Mr Swinney is more typically dispatched to shut down stories.
That’s why when he is unleashed in the parliamentary
chamber, he can develop a glint in his eye like a gladiator taking to the
arena.
He may still look to bog down tricky lines of questioning in
a desert of procedure and statistical background. But given half an opening, he
will pounce on the chance to unload a barrage of political rhetoric on
opposition leaders.
Following
months of wrangling over pay, the result of a ballot of teachers on
whether to walk out is also expected.
John Swinney previously
said the Scottish government had no more money to fund public sector pay
rises.
So he can expect a tough time today from Scottish Tory leader
Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
What can we expect from today’s FMQs?
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Mr Swinney will field questions from opposition leaders as Ms
Sturgeon prepares to meet Rishi Sunak face-to-face for the first time since he
became prime minister.
The focus in Holyrood is expected to be on the prospect of further
public sector strikes and the cost of living crisis.
It comes a day after Scotland's largest nursing union voted to go on strike for
the first time ever in a dispute over pay.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
View more on twitterView more on twitter View more on twitterView more on twitter Analysis
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Analysis
View more on twitterView more on twitter 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter Analysis
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Analysis
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Latest PostWATCH AGAIN
That's all from the live page today. Join us again next time.
Swinney was an extremely able deputy for Sturgeon
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Today’s session was characterised by remarkably lengthy exchanges between the party leaders. John Swinney spent 27 minutes going back and forth with Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar.
That meant backbench members had to rather rush through their questions in the remaining time – something which will have irked Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who wants as many MSPs to be involved as possible.
Having dominated the session, each of the parties will feel they got across some of their key messages.
The Conservatives contend that the Scottish government is doing a poor job of running public services. Ministers reply that economic turmoil and instability are entirely the fault of the UK government, while SNP backbenchers tee up attacks on the Tories.
Labour meanwhile seek to hammer the performance of both the Holyrood and Westminster administrations, and cast themselves as a responsible alternative.
In that regard, Mr Swinney was an extremely able deputy for Nicola Sturgeon; the session was more or less indistinguishable from the one which would have played out were she present.
'It's a bit rich for Tories to call for higher spending' - Swinney
Moving on, Conservative MSP Graham Simpson highlights comments by Highlands and Islands Enterprise that cheaper air travel for business passengers could help to strengthen the viability of island routes.
Mr Simpson says investment could make sure more islanders are not forced to move away for professional reasons.
John Swinney says "it's a bit rich" and hypocritical for the Tories to call for higher expenditure when seven weeks ago they were demanding he cut taxes.
NHS recruitment totally undermined by Brexit - Swinney
In response to Mr Sarwar's final question, the deputy first minister repeats that the Scottish government's ability to recruit staff has been "totally undermined" by Brexit and the Conservative government.
Mr Swinney says that by refusing to address this, Labour leader Keir Starmer is taking the same line as the Tories and that is an "absolute disgrace".
He says international recruitment by the Scottish government is "ethical".
Mr Swinney acknowledges huge pressures in the NHS, which he puts down to the strain of recovering from the Covid pandemic.
He adds that the Scottish government will continue to support the NHS.
Anas Sarwar says NHS is worst it has ever been
Anas Sarwar seeks to clarify his position on Sir Keir Starmer's comments on the NHS and immigration.
He says migrants play an "invaluable part" in our NHS. And he points out that people who come to work in the NHS are not migrants, they are "equal scots just like the rest of us".
The Scottish Labour leader says that should not stop us having a credible workforce plan that means we train more doctors and nurses here.
He asks Mr Swinney if everything is so rosy why are nurses going on strike for the first time in their history.
"Does the deputy first minister accept that the NHS has not faced a crisis like this in its history, that it is the worst it has ever been and it is all happening on the SNP's watch?," he asks.
Sarwar hammers home message on NHS problems
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Anas Sarwar has now led his questions on health in six of the last eight weeks.
This is an effort to latch on to a core devolved responsibility, not only to hold the government to account but to give his own leadership a clear position and purpose.
He returns to the same theme “week after week”, in his own words, to hammer home his message – that problems in the NHS had been in the making long before the pandemic, and “all on the SNP’s watch”.
John Swinney also had some bigger-picture themes in mind in his responses.
The SNP are wary of Labour mounting any kind of recovery, and take every opportunity they can to link their rivals to Brexit or compare them to the Tories.
And the deputy first minister was likely delighted to have an opening to bring up Sir Keir Starmer’s recent comments about the role of immigration in NHS staffing, which the SNP see as a major own-goal by the UK Labour leader.
Swinney hits back at Starmer's NHS staff comments
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar agrees that we are in the middle of an economic crisis made by a "rotten Tory government at Westminster".
However, he says there has been a decade of failure in staff planning in the NHS.
He adds that there are record vacancies in the health service and these staff shortages risk patient safety.
The deputy first minister says record levels of staffing must be a product of workforce planning.
Mr Swinney turns his fire on the comments made by UK Labour leader Keir Starmer who told the BBC too many people from overseas were being recruited into the health service.
The deputy first minister says he listened to the comments with "incredulity".
He says recruiting to the NHS was hampered by Brexit, which ended free movement of individuals and meant the loss of staff from the health service.
Mr Swinney adds that the comments from Keir Starmer were a disastrous signal to give to hard-working members of staff.
Scottish labour leader says nurses are under-valued and under-resourced
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also questions Mr Swinney on nurses.
He says they have been underpaid, under-valued and under-resourced since well before the Covid pandemic.
Mr Sarwar adds that the staffing crisis relates to decisions made over the past decade.
The deputy first minister points out there are today record staffing levels in the NHS.
He says they are the product of sustained investment despite the climate of austerity in which they have been operating.
Mr Swinney adds that the Scottish government is limited by financial pressures but will do everything in its power to support the NHS workforce and ensure there are enough staff.
'Stop using the pandemic as an excuse'
Douglas Ross concludes by saying the Scottish government is using Covid to cover its failures.
He says the situation at, for example, Forth Valley health board has been described as "a million times worse than before the pandemic".
"Stop using that as an excuse and start dealing with things," he says, adding "Humza Yousaf has failed."
'Improvements are being made'
John Swinney supports Humza Yousaf's claim that "elements of improvement are being made". He looks to back this up with figures revealing increased investment in the past two years.
He says he accepts that challenges exist in the health service but also pays tribute to staff who are working "phenomenally hard on the back of a pandemic which has put huge strain on our health service".
Scotland has best performing A&E system in UK, says deputy FM
Mr Ross says it is the 14th time since Humza Yousaf became health secretary that waiting times have hit their worst ever level.
John Swinney hits back that Scotland has the best performing A&E system in the UK.
"That's why we have have offered NHS staff in Scotland the best pay deal of any system in the United Kingdom," he adds.
The NHS is on its knees - Ross
Douglas Ross quotes the Royal College of Nursing saying that after "months and months and months of talks" it has got to the stage that nursing staff have to stand up, not only for themselves, but for their patients as well because the government is not listening.
Mr Ross says it is now beyond doubt that the health secretary has failed.
He adds that statistics, including those around missed A&E waiting time targets, confirm that the NHS "is on its knees".
Opposition sights set on Humza Yousaf
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Nursing strikes was really the obvious topic for leaders this week, and Douglas Ross opted to shoot for the open goal.
He came equipped with some quotes from a nurse – a standard technique to make ministers answer to a member of the public rather than a political opponent.
John Swinney is well placed to cover the detail of this issue of course, given he’s the money man.
As finance secretary he’s the one who set out the recent emergency budget review, and warned that there was no more cash to fund pay deals.
He deployed another standard technique – to respond to criticism by praising NHS staff and stressing the impact of the pandemic.
It’s another minister that opposition parties have in their sights though. Labour have been homing in on Health Secretary Humza Yousaf for weeks, and the Conservatives have now joined in calling for his head.
Government 'entirely focused' on NHS challenges
Mr Swinney says the health secretary has also been actively involved in addressing challenges such as delayed discharge.
Swinney- We have put forward a record pay deal
Mr Ross asks John Swinney what the health secretary Humza Yousaf has done to address the concerns of NHS staff about workload and funding.
Mr Swinney says he recognises the concerns of staff through the ballots that have taken place.
"There have been extensive negotiations that the health secretary and I have been involved in to try to resolve the pay deal," the deputy first minister adds.
He insists the Scottish government has put forward a record pay deal which, on average, would give staff a 7% increase.
Ross opens with nurses' strike action
Douglas Ross begins FMQs by raising the issue of nurses in Scotland voting to go on strike for the first time ever.
He says, as well as pay, staff are "incredibly worried about the crisis in Scotland's health service".
Mr Ross highlights a warning from the Royal College of Nurses that "things are not safe for patients".
Swinney relishes being front and centre
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
John Swinney doesn’t get to take First Minister’s Questions all that often - but you can tell that he relishes these rare occasions.
The deputy first minister is no stranger to tough questions. He’s regularly sent out to do the most difficult interviews and defend the government’s handling of events.
Other ministers are sent on a media round to announce things; Mr Swinney is more typically dispatched to shut down stories.
That’s why when he is unleashed in the parliamentary chamber, he can develop a glint in his eye like a gladiator taking to the arena.
He may still look to bog down tricky lines of questioning in a desert of procedure and statistical background. But given half an opening, he will pounce on the chance to unload a barrage of political rhetoric on opposition leaders.
Why Nicola Sturgeon always sends for Swinney: Read more here
More public sector pay woes for the government
Following months of wrangling over pay, the result of a ballot of teachers on whether to walk out is also expected.
John Swinney previously said the Scottish government had no more money to fund public sector pay rises.
So he can expect a tough time today from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
What can we expect from today’s FMQs?
Mr Swinney will field questions from opposition leaders as Ms Sturgeon prepares to meet Rishi Sunak face-to-face for the first time since he became prime minister.
The focus in Holyrood is expected to be on the prospect of further public sector strikes and the cost of living crisis.
It comes a day after Scotland's largest nursing union voted to go on strike for the first time ever in a dispute over pay.
Read more on the nurses' dispute here
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of this week’s First Minister’s Questions from the Scottish Parliament.
Deputy FM John Swinney will be standing in for Nicola Sturgeon, who is attending a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Blackpool.
The session kicks off at Holyrood at 12 noon and we will have all the breaking news, reaction and analysis here.