That's all from the live page team. Have a lovely afternoon.

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

A regular scrum of photographers and MSPs gathered in the Garden Lobby after FMQs – but not, for once, to doorstep the first minister or debate a controversial policy.

They were there to see puppies – something which has become an annual fixture at this time of year at Holyrood, generally in a bid to underline that a pup is not just for Christmas.

Today’s event sought to raise awareness about illegal puppy farming, and to encourage people to adopt a rescue dog instead of buying.

Image source, Getty Images

Tory MSP Jamie Greene turns to the BBC report on the backlog of Community Payback Orders reaching 700,000.

Greene says for a victim of crime this is nothing like business as usual and adds that the justice system is letting people down.

The first minister replies that court decisions are for courts and more generally the community justice system continues to perform well.

Tory MSP Russell Findlay raises the case of the death of Rhys Bonner, found in marshland in Glasgow in 2019.

Mr Findlay says some of Rhys's mother's complaints were upheld by PIRC (Police Investigations and Review Commissioner) and Police Scotland have been instructed to conduct further inquiries.

The first minister explains it would not be right for her to comment on individual cases and says the broader reform of the police complaints system is ongoing.

Greens MSP Gillian Mackay brings up the Supreme Court ruling on safe access or "buffer" zones for abortion facilities in Northern Ireland.

She says it paves the way for moves to set up buffer zones in Scotland.

The first minister joins Ms Mackay in congratulating Irish Greens leader Clare Bailey on her legal win and thanks her for advice she has given to the Scottish government.

She says she is pleased at the decision to protect the rights of women being able to access abortion services without harassment or fear and says the Scottish government is scrutinising the detail of that judgement.

She adds that she is looking forward to working with Ms Mackay in bringing her Scottish legislation forward.

Read more: Court ruling paves way for abortion clinic buffer zones

Image source, Bear Scotland

Tory MSP Donald Cameron says the Sunday Post revealed that almost £100m has been spent , externalon short-term repairs to the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

In recent years, the road in Argyll has become infamous for landslips.

The FM tells the chamber a preferred route corridor for a permanent solution was announced back in 2021.

The preferred route for the long-term solution should be announced by Spring next year, she adds.

Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury highlights concerns from constituents over mould in their homes following the death of toddler Awaab Ishak in Rochdale.

Nicola Sturgeon says the Scottish government continues to invest in new and existing housing stock.

She has asked the cabinet secretary to write to Mr Choudhury to update him on actions taken and lessons learned from the tragic events

Image source, Getty Images

Labour's Jackie Baillie asks for an update on whether the Scottish government will instruct Scottish Water to freeze water rates next year to help with the cost of living crisis.

This is up to Scottish Water's board, says the first minister. She says the board took a responsible view last year and held costs to a real terms freeze. She expects them to take a proportionate position this year.

Ms Sturgeon adds that the average water charge in Scotland remains lower than England and Wales.

Ms Baillie fears bills will rise by 13% due to the rate of inflation and asks the FM to freeze water bills for the next financial year.

Ms Sturgeon says again this is a matter for the Scottish Water board and will take responsible decisions on ways to support people through the cost of living crisis.

Healthcare remains the main topic and Tory MSP Edward Mountain asks how many single-crewed ambulances, responding to an emergency, have been deployed in the last six months.

Ms Sturgeon has the numbers to hand, saying between June and November, this happened in 1,429 instances, 1.72% of the total number of shifts. She says these shifts only happen in exceptional circumstances.

Mr Mountain says this results in a danger to life in locations like the Highlands where journey times to hospitals are longer, because single-crewed ambulances cannot transport patients to hospitals.

He brings up a commitment to eliminate the practice made by Ms Sturgeon when she was health secretary in 2008.

Ms Sturgeon repeats that the practice only happens when it cannot be avoided. She says in some cases the only alternative to single crewing is to have no ambulance at all.

Charlie's case silences the chamberpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2022

13:08 GMT 8 December 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The case study Anas Sarwar presented of a young person left waiting for mental health support silenced the Holyrood chamber.

And it meant the exchanges which followed had a serious and focused air to them, rather than the political heckling heard moments earlier when Douglas Ross sought to make broader points about the health services.

Indeed it was so affecting that Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton picked up on it in the preamble to his question, which was also on the topic of health.

Having to address a specific case rather than the wider issue, Ms Sturgeon said Charlie’s experience was “not acceptable”.

But she defended “significant investment” in the workforce and a fall in waiting lists, insisting that the government is working hard and making progress.

The three opposition party leaders each employed different ways of making the same point – the health services remain absolutely front and centre in the debate at Holyrood.

The first minister replies: "Mental health spending has doubled under this government."

She adds: "The number of people working in CAMHS has also doubled."

The FM says it's right to point to progress and improvements on waiting times.

She accepts there are significant challenges but insists progress is being made.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says what we heard from Anas Sarwar was "devastating" adding "Charlie was not alone, not by a long shot".

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says: "The situation is desperate."

The mental health treatment target was missed for one in three children, he says.

He warns that £38m has been cut from this year's mental health budget, which will lead to more delays.

Image source, Getty Images

Background

Pupils at schools with cases of streptococcus A could get preventative antibiotics following nine deaths linked to the bacteria across the UK.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said he would be issuing advice on the matter, adding that the whole health service was "on alert" for cases.

There have been no deaths from severe strep disease in Scotland.

However, Mr Yousaf said he expected cases to increase over the coming weeks.

It comes after the issue of preventative antibiotics was raised in the House of Lords on Monday.

Parents are being urged to be vigilant for symptoms and to promptly contact their GP or NHS24 if they have any concerns.

• Read more here
• Strep A death of eighth child confirmed
• Strep A schools may be given preventive antibiotics
• Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know

Alex Cole-Hamilton, as always, begins by asking when the cabinet will next meet.

Sturgeon says next Tuesday and she tells the chamber the cabinet will discuss the ongoing monitoring of Strep A.

The FM explains there has so far been no deaths of children in Scotland, however 13 cases of invasive Group A strep cases in under 10s have been reported to Public Health Scotland since the start of October and December the fifth.

"The first minister just isn't listening," snaps back Anas Sarwar.

He says: "If you get a first appointment telephone call, but your diagnosis doesn't happen and treatment doesn't start, so you fall off a list, that is not a measure of success, that is a measure of failure and demonstrates you are gaming the system."

He says a quarter of all deaths of five to 24-year-olds are from suicide and that children are being failed. He asks the FM to implement a range of measures including reversing cuts to mental health in primary care, funding for school-based counselling, and an increase to the mental health budget.

Ms Sturgeon says again that Charlie's experience is unacceptable but that mental health spending has doubled since the SNP took office. She adds that many services are being moved into the community and says her job is to get on with addressing the challenges.

Mr Sarwar brings up the experience of Charlie, a P7 pupil referred to CAMHS in 2020. The last time he heard from CAMHS was two years ago.

With no diagnosis and treatment he has become withdrawn and has posted a concerning video asking if anyone else felt like they wanted to die.

He says Charlie may wait another two years for support and says this is not good enough.

The first minister says this experience is "not acceptable" and she is willing to look into the case.

She admits the waits for children are too long but says significant action is being taken to reduce long waits.

She says the investment in the workforce is having an impact and that one in two referrals is being seen within 10 weeks. She adds that there is a significant increase in people accessing community services for mental health support.

Image source, Getty Images

Anas Sarwar turns to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), saying too many children have had their referrals rejected and too many are waiting too long for treatment.

The Labour leader says there have been 8,873 who have had their referrals rejected in the past year, and that 1,248 have been waiting more than a year for their first appointment.

Nicola Sturgeon says the overall CAMHS waiting list has reduced by 1,398 this quarter; children waiting over 18 weeks has decreased by 658 and children waiting over 52 weeks has decreased by 281, the first time all three have dropped since September 2016.

She says there is still much to do but progress has been made.

NHS remains under the spotlightpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2022

12:42 GMT 8 December 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Douglas Ross went on a tour around the health services in his questions, seeking to underline the breadth of the issues facing the NHS.

Rather than focus in on one department, he listed off queries about A&E waiting times, delayed discharge and GP practices.

Ms Sturgeon responded as she does every week – that while there are challenges facing the NHS they are not unique to Scotland, and that the system performs better than those elsewhere.

As familiar as these exchanges are, there was a fairly chippy undertone today. Mr Ross said it was “shameful” to criticise services elsewhere in the UK, while Ms Sturgeon said his claims on that front were “factually inaccurate”.

With heckling across the chamber clearly audible, it is clear the heat has not gone out of this debate for all that it is repeated week after week.

The FM says she is happy to look at the circumstances of individual cases.

The median waiting time for a patient with cancer to start treatment is measured in days not weeks or months, she explains.

Sturgeon hits back saying she has not attacked the NHS anywhere and she again says the NHS in Scotland performs better than in England or Wales.

Ross says it is "shameful" that the FM is attacking the NHS in rUK, than focusing on what she can do in Scotland.

This all adds up to "healthcare that doesn't deliver for patients,", he says.

He turns to cancer and says one person has waited over six months to start her treatment for breast cancer and another waited 18 months to start treatment for prostate cancer.

Worst of al,l someone has waited two years to start their treatment for cancer, Ross says.

What is being done to tackle these appalling waiting times?, he asks.