That's all from our live page coverage of FMQs this week. Thank you for joining us.

Image source, Reuters

The Scottish government has said work to dual the A9 between Inverness and Perth will not be completed by 2025.

Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said the target was "unachievable".

She said the government remained committed to upgrading the remaining single carriageway sections of the road to dual carriageway.

But she said the project had been hit by delays, highlighting the impact of the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

The Scottish government had committed to the project in 2011, when it was predicted to cost £3bn.

Read more via this link.

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says: "The first minister has betrayed communities in the north of Scotland with her broken promise to dual the A9".

Ms Grant accuses the government of blaming the failure on recent events that should never have impacted on the dualling and she calls for a completion date.

Sturgeon insists: "The Scottish government is firmly committed to completing the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness."

The FM points out that is a £3bn investment and road users are already benefiting from some stretches that are already dualled.

She explains the cost of the tender was not value for money for the taxpayer.

Image source, Reuters

Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba asks about pre-payment meters, in the wake of the record profits being announced by oil and gas providers such as BP and Shell.

She says constituents are receiving “alarming letters” from energy providers demanding payments on accounts which are not even in arrears, but in significant credit.

People are being threatened with the "enforced installation of pre-payment meters", she says, and asks if the FM will condemn the use of such “bullying and strong-arm tactics” and commit to ending the granting of warrants to install them forcibly.

Ms Sturgeon says “of course” she would condemn any behaviour that seeks to bully consumers in any way, but taxation of such companies and energy regulation are reserved matters for the UK government.

“I wish this wasn’t the case”, she says, adding that while her government will see what more can be done, “if we didn’t always have to look to the UK government, we would be able to do much more than we are right now.”

Analysis: Is the bottle deposit scheme the next political flashpoint?published at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2023

13:05 GMT 9 February 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The deposit return scheme might well be the next big political battleground at Holyrood.

Businesses are spending millions preparing for the launch of the scheme in the autumn, but are making nervous noises about the potential impact. Many of them will be writing to their MSPs to voice their concerns.

There has even been talk of a potential legal clash with UK-wide laws.

And it is striking that this issue was raised first and foremost today by Fergus Ewing, an SNP stalwart who was a government minister for 14 years. He has become a powerful voice on the back benches, and did not mince his words.

Ms Sturgeon, as ever, came prepared with a set of statistics to back up her case, but actually noted some concerns of her own about how small businesses in particular will cope and talked about the importance of “listening”.

That will put pressure on Lorna Slater – the Green minister in charge of the rollout of this scheme – to make sure it is delivered smoothly.

Image source, Getty Images

A leading lawyer has claimed that Scotland's bottle deposit return scheme could create an unlawful trade barrier with the rest of the UK.

The initiative is due to launch in August and is designed to boost recycling via a 20p deposit on single-use drinks bottles and cans.

But Aidan O'Neill KC said the Scottish government may have to delay it until the launch of a UK-wide scheme in 2025.

He made the remarks in advice sought from a group of distillers.

• Read more here
• Fears bottle return scheme will not be ready
• Bottle return scheme will not start until 2023
• What's holding up Scotland's bottle deposit scheme?

Image source, Loch Lomond Brewery

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing asks about reports that 600 drinks producers are concerned about the impact on their businesses, and the survival of them, in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

The FM says concerns that have been raised will be addressed and she points out mitigations for producers.

Sturgeon adds the government continues to work with the industry, but Ewing argues many of the producers are in "fear and even despair".

He warns some will close and some will fail and unless halted now this scheme will damage the reputation of Scotland as a place to do business.

Ewing asks: "Will you instruct a pause of this disaster of a scheme before it becomes a catastrophe?"

Sturgeon says engagement with businesses will continue and in terms of glass there are 44 countries and territories operating deposit return schemes and only four don't include glass.

"We will continue to listen," she adds.

Image source, DIAGEO

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks what assessment the Scottish government has made of the potential impact on the hospitality and tourism sectors of a ban on advertising alcohol products.

Last month we reported that a whisky expert had criticised a Scottish government report that suggests banning the sale of alcohol-branded merchandise.

The FM explains the consultation is ongoing and no decisions have been taken yet on a ban.

Ms Sturgeon points to Ireland where a ban was brought in to protect children.

Mr Fraser says an advertising ban could harm distilleries across Scotland and the FM points out "there is a world of difference between a billboard outside or in the vicinity of a school and, for example, a Johnnie Walker baseball cap".

Analysis: The annual battle over local government fundingpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2023

12:50 GMT 9 February 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

We are right in the thick of local government budget season – indeed only this morning Aberdeenshire Council was agreeing a 4% increase incouncil tax.

That means we are at the peak of the annual scrap over the local government allocation in the Scottish government’s budget, and it means stories abound of local services facing the chop.

Mr Sarwar rattled off a great list of them, saying that it all comes back to Ms Sturgeon’s administration. It’s an annual row for a reason.

The first minister meanwhile says the root of budgetary pressures is another tier of government – at Westminster.

And she wants to put pressure on opposition leaders too, to come up with solid, costed proposals – what would they be cutting to funnel cash to councils?

Holyrood is still in the midst of its budget process too, with MSPs due to set income tax rates and bands this afternoon.

But given John Swinney is still trying to plug gaps in the current year’s budget, wrestling with a £100m overspend that he needs to clear, extra cash is going to be hard to come by.

Mr Sarwar says there is no way for councils to balance books without further destroying local services, and all 32 of Scotland’s councils are united in opposition to the cuts.

He quotes from a presentation to council leaders last week, which concludes the government’s plans are ‘increasingly unrealistic, not sustainable…and put the financial viability of local government at risk”.

Despite warnings from all parties, Mr Sarwar says: “As usual, she is right and everyone else is wrong”.

The FM responds that analysis from the Institute of Fiscal Studies shows council funding has increased since 2013/14 by £2.2bn – 29% higher in cash terms - but with inflation so high, it is affecting all parts of the public sector.

She says anyone who says the government should give more money to local councils has a duty to point out where it should come from in the draft budget – “the NHS? police? social security?” – if they want to be credible.

The Scottish Labour leader responds that “this is a real-terms cut to council budgets” and the FM is “out of touch with reality”. Ms Sturgeon says Mr Sarwar is "all sound and fury and no substance".

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's councils are facing a £700m funding gap as they prepare to set their budgets for the coming year.

Individual local authorities have shortfalls ranging from around £7m in the Scottish Borders to £120m at Glasgow City Council, according to research by the BBC.

Councils have been appealing to the Scottish government for more cash but ministers have said they have been given a fair settlement in challenging circumstances.

Without additional national funding, councils are considering major cuts to local jobs and services and increases in council tax to balance their books.

The BBC asked all 32 local authorities for more details of the options under consideration. All but Angus and Dumfries & Galloway replied.

Read more on this story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Sarwar then raises the issue of budget deficits leaving councils in a “dire position”.

He says independent analysis reveals budgets have been cut by £304m in real terms with “devastating consequences” and asks the FM if she will admit her government has cut local government budgets.

Ms Sturgeon says her government is increasing council budgets to the tune of £578m in next year’s budget, assuming it is passed by the parliament.

With inflation “sky high”, she says it is “absolutely” the case that local government is struggling with those constraints, and the Scottish government will continue to support council umbrella body Cosla “as much as we can”.

The FM says she invited Mr Sarwar to point to other parts of draft budget where the government could take resources from, but suspects he “hasn’t come up with any reasonable, realistic or credible proposals”.

When the session resumes, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar again raises the plight of those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

An appeal has been launched by the UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help hundreds of thousands of people.

Earlier, Douglas Ross and Nicola Sturgeon had also agreed over the importance of the DEC Appeal.

As Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar gets to his feet and starts to offer condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquake, a heckler is heard shouting from the public gallery.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone decides to temporarily suspend FMQs.

The Scottish Conservative leader says he is not asking a "gotcha question", it's a very basic question.

Mr Ross argues the FM refuses to give a basic answer and he points out female prison officers have been ordered to carry out intimate strip searches of Tiffany Scott.

"Does the first minister agree with me that this is completely unacceptable and will she intervene today?"

Sturgeon reiterates the policies being discussed are guided by the UK's Equality Act and the rights trans people have flow from that legislation.

The FM explains the SPS has been dealing with transgender prisoners for many, many years now and is experienced in handling these cases.

She says the SPS has a trauma informed approach that supports staff and inmates in their care.

Image source, CENTRAL SCOTLAND NEWS AGENCY

The Scottish government has been urged to block the transfer of a violent transgender prisoner from a men's prison to a women's jail.

It is understood that Tiffany Scott, who was previously known as a man called Andrew Burns, has applied for the move.

The Daily Record, external first reported that the transfer has been approved and is likely to happen later this year.

The Scottish Conservatives called for the move to be stopped.

The Scottish government has since announced a "pause" on the transfer of transgender inmates to the female prison estate, pending reviews.

• Read more here

Douglas Ross insists the first minister's government will consider Isla Bryson a woman when released from prison.

The Scottish Conservative leader turns to the case of Tiffany Scott, formerly known as Andrew Burns who now identifies as a woman.

"Does the first minister believe this criminal is a woman?"

The FM argues Douglas Ross is demonstrating a lack of understanding of the law.

Sturgeon says any rights an individual has flow from the Equality Act 2004, which is UK wide legislation and is based on self-identification.

A Gender Recognition Certificate simply allows someone to change their birth certificate, it does not give trans people any additional rights, she explains.

There are well established procedures for when offenders leave prison, she adds.

Analysis: Gender questions once again dominate FMQspublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2023

12:18 GMT 9 February 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Nicola Sturgeon has faced weeks of uncomfortable questions about the cases of Isla Bryson and Tiffany Scott, and Douglas Ross has no interest in letting the matter lie.

The Tory leader noted that Ms Sturgeon has been asked if Isla Bryson is a man or a woman on a dozen occasions, and he made it a baker’s dozen.

That means the first minister’s answer is becoming a familiar one.

She wants to turn the question back to the issue of existing law – not Holyrood’s new one – and about how individual cases are risk-assessed, rather than the broader issue of self-identification.

We know this is an issue which is going to come back to Holyrood again in the near future, both in a report to the justice committee on the Bryson case and indeed a hearing with prison bosses and the justice secretary later in the month.

And with the Scottish government set to take the UK government to court for blocking Holyrood’s gender reforms, the issue of self-identification is going to remain close to the top of the political agenda for much of the year.

That means every case or controversy like this will come back to Ms Sturgeon’s door, regardless of the fact they are happening under the existing regime.

This will be far from the last clash we hear between the leaders on this topic.

The first minister insists the findings of the report will be published and the cabinet secretary will update the Criminal Justice Committee this week.

Ms Sturgeon says MSPs will be able to question him and the head of the SPS after the parliamentary recess.

She explains the individual identifies as a woman, however any rights associated with that are not a result of any legislation passed by Holyrood, it's a result of the Equality Act passed by the UK parliament.

The FM insists it is the crime and the nature of the risk posed that is important here and in this case the individual is a double rapist.

Douglas Ross returns again to the case of Isla Bryson and asks for the FM to publish the report in full.

The Scottish Conservative leader argues that Nicola Sturgeon has refused to say 12 times if Isla Bryson is a man or a woman.

He says: "He's a rapist, he has a penis, what further information can the first minister possibly need?"

Ross says if this "monster" comes out of jail will Nicola Sturgeon consider him a man or a woman?