WATCH AGAIN: Ross and Sarwar attack Yousaf over NHS report
If you missed it earlier, you can catch up on the questions raised by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour counterpart Anas Sarwar in relation to today's Audit Scotland report on NHS targets.
That concludes our coverage of FMQs for another week.
Thanks for your company today, and catch you next time.
FM - 'I will always feel responsibility for The Promise'
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Labour MSP Martin Whitfield asks what recent action the Scottish government has been taking to keep The Promise to young people in care.
The first minister stresses the government pledges to ensure every child grows up and is "loved, safe and respected".
She points out it is a personal commitment of hers that she will take with her as she leaves government in the next couple of weeks.
Almost £80m has been committed to The Promise in the budget, she says.
The Labour MSP warns there are serious concerns about progress in delivering The Promise.
The FM replies: "I will always feel responsibility for The Promise"
'Will general practice become an extinct profession?' - Tory MSP
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Tory MSP Tess White asks about research by the Royal College of General Practitioners reportedly showing a third of Scotland's GP staff surveyed said their practice was at risk of closing in the next few months.
The first minister says she understands the difficulties practices are facing and she thanks GPs and their teams for their work.
Sturgeon points out the survey sample size is small but the government will work to make sure the job is attractive.
Tess White adds: "GPs in the north east have sounded the alarm that general practice will become an extinct profession."
The FM insists her government will continue to support primary care. She adds they are on track to meet their GP targets and stresses the GPs per head of population is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
Nicola Sturgeon says she accepts the conclusions of the Audit Scotland
report and will consider each and every one of its recommendations.
She recognises that some staff are feeling burnt out, which is why
they were given the “fairest possible pay increase”, she says, which avoided
the possibility of strike action.
She acknowledges there is still “much work to do” on
waiting times, but says there has been a reduction in the longest waits.
Mr Sarwar reels off a list of figures comparing waiting lists when
Humza Yousaf was appointed health secretary to now.
“By every single measure, this health secretary has failed to get
the NHS back on track,” he says, adding it is ”the worst it has ever been”.
Ms Sturgeon responds that since Mr Yousaf came into the job, there
have been three further waves of Covid and “that can’t just be ignored”.
Government 'took its eye off the ball' on NHS - Sarwar
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Nicola Sturgeon thanks Mr Sarwar for his previous
comments and says he has “probably got more grace in his wee finger than the
Tories combined”.
The FM says the NHS faces the most significant challenges of any
point in its history, with changing demographics and ever-increasing expectations
even before the pandemic.
She maintains funding for the health service has doubled during
her eight years as FM, is higher proportionally than any other part of the UK, while
staffing has “increased significantly”.
She does not deny the challenges, but adds the government will focus on addressing them.
The Scottish Labour leader responds by saying the Scottish government “took
its eye off the ball” with the NHS and “still
hasn’t caught up”, citing some of the Audit Scotland report’s “damning” findings.
“It’s clear Humza Yousaf has failed,” he adds.
FM 'deserves recognition and respect' - Sarwar
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also starts by paying tribute
to the people of Ukraine before addressing Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation last
week.
He says that while they have had their “fair share of stooshies”
and disagree on many things, it is important to note Ms Sturgeon has been at
the forefront of Scottish politics for
20 years and as first minister led the country through a global pandemic.
“For that she deserves our recognition and respect,” he says.
Turning to the Audit Scotland report on NHS targets, Mr Sarwar
says it is clear NHS boards were already struggling before the pandemic and Covid didn’t cause the problems, but exacerbated them.
“What went wrong?” he asks the FM.
Analysis
FM finds herself speaking out in defence of Humza Yousaf
Following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation announcement last
week, it was striking how quickly the discussion moved on to who was next.
And it seems like Holyrood is already moving on from her
too, because this quickly became questions to the next first minister.
Opposition leaders suspect that may be Humza Yousaf – a man
they have had in their sights for months while raising questions about the NHS.
Both the Conservatives and Labour wanted him to resign as
health secretary; now they say he is failing upwards into the top job.
Nicola Sturgeon is used to these exchanges about NHS
challenges, but there is a new layer of challenge now.
She really doesn’t want to get involved in the leadership
contest, but has found herself speaking out in defence of Mr Yousaf – without
making it look like an explicit endorsement.
Yesterday, she was boxed into criticism of Kate Forbes,
having been asked about the finance secretary’s views on gay marriage – but
doesn’t want that to read as a hint to party members studying their ballot
papers.
Ms Sturgeon may want to glide above the tumult of the SNP
leadership race, but as first minister she has little option but to be dragged
into it.
'Douglas Ross is sounding pretty scared of Humza Yousaf'
Ross persists with his attack on Humza Yousaf, lambasting his time as transport and justice secretary and says he is the worst health secretary since devolution.
Sturgeon hits back, saying: "Douglas Ross is sounding pretty scared of Humza Yousaf."
She adds Ross will be scared of whoever becomes first minister.
'Humza Yousaf has made the crisis in the NHS much worse'
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Ross says everyone could see Humza Yousaf's NHS recovery plan was "flimsy".
The Scottish Tory leader tells the chamber: "Humza Yousaf has made the crisis in the NHS much worse."
"Why should a health secretary who has failed our NHS get to fail the whole of Scotland?"
Sturgeon says eight and 12-hour A&E waits are down, showing progress.
The numbers waiting the longest for treatment has reduced by nearly a quarter, she adds.
FM says Ross using NHS as 'political weapon'
The first minister insists A&E performance is improving and there are record levels of staff in the NHS.
Sturgeon points out funding for the NHS has doubled and she says Douglas Ross asks people to believe these problems are unique to Scotland.
The Audit Scotland report contradicts this and says they are not unique to Scotland, she says.
She accuses Douglas Ross of turning the NHS into a "political weapon".
'Is this useless health secretary really the best the SNP have to offer?'
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Health Secretary Humza YousafImage caption: Health Secretary Humza Yousaf
Ross hits back saying: "Shameful. Shameful is the only way you could describe that answer from the first minister."
He says the FM didn't mention the patient in Ayrshire who waited for two and a half days in A&E.
The Scottish Tory leader accuses Humza Yousaf of smiling and smirking during this exchange.
He too refers to the Audit Scotland report and asks: "Is this useless health secretary really the best the SNP have to offer?"
FM says Scotland's A&Es remain the best performing of any in the UK
gettyCopyright: getty
Nicola Sturgeon also marks tomorrow's anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine by expressing her solidarity with the Ukrainians.
The first minister turns to the issues of the NHS and begins by saying it is for the members of the SNP to elect a new leader.
Sturgeon says Humza Yousaf is the only health secretary anywhere in the UK that has managed to avoid a single day of strikes in the NHS.
She adds Scotland's A&Es remain the best performing of any in the UK and accuses Douglas Ross of behaving like the pandemic had never happened.
BACKGROUND: Scottish NHS jobs targets unlikely to be met, says Audit Scotland
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NHS jobs targets under Scotland's Covid recovery plan are "unlikely to be met", Audit Scotland has warned.
The public spending watchdog urged ministers to be "transparent" about hospital backlogs and provide health boards with achievable targets.
And it called for more support for patients stuck on long waiting lists.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said it would take years for the NHS to recover, but opposition MSPs described his record as "shambolic".
Ross questions Yousaf's ability to do job he has at the moment
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The Scottish Conservative leader begins by paying tribute to the people of Ukraine for their courage in their fight against Putin.
Douglas Ross reminds the chamber Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is resigning and he says Humza Yousaf is the frontrunner to replace him.
Ross says Scotland's NHS has lurched further and further into crisis and he cites the case of a patient in the Borders who waited 49 hours to be treated in A&E.
He says a patient in Ayrshire waited 60 hours to be treated.
"Doesn't this confirm that Humza Yousaf isn't even up to the job he has at the moment?"
FMQs is under way...
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Nicola Sturgeon is poised ready in her seat and Douglas Ross has gotten to his feet as FMQs begins.
Towards the end of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation speech,
you got the feeling a weight had been lifted from the departing first
minister’s shoulders.
And even as the race to replace her has grown
increasingly fractious, Ms Sturgeon has been bantering with Andy Murray on
Twitter and posting her hillwalks on Instagram.
For the the first time in years, she has not been the
central focus of political debate. Instead the tough questions have been posed
to her potential successors, as their mettle is stress-tested in the heat of a
leadership race.
But Ms Sturgeon will have to put her zen feelings to one
side for today and dust off her trademark ring-binder of answers.
The list of potential topics is, as ever, lengthy -
ranging from teaching strikes currently targeted at her own constituency to a
critical audit report about the NHS.
That underlines the scale of the challenges facing Ms
Sturgeon’s successor - and also why she may be so relieved that this will all
soon be someone else’s problem.
Welcome
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first FMQs since Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning last week.
Scotland's politics has since been dominated by the SNP leadership campaign - with Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf considered the two main contenders, and Ash Regan due to officially launch her bid on Friday.
We can expect that contest to be mentioned more than once today.
We'll bring you updates, background reports and analysis, and you can watch along with us by hitting the play icon at the top of the page.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Health Secretary Humza YousafImage caption: Health Secretary Humza Yousaf 
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PA MediaCopyright: PA Media - Five big problems the NHS in Scotland needs to fix
- Why we should worry about what is happening in A&E
- National Care Service costs significantly understated
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Latest PostWATCH AGAIN: Ross and Sarwar attack Yousaf over NHS report
If you missed it earlier, you can catch up on the questions raised by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour counterpart Anas Sarwar in relation to today's Audit Scotland report on NHS targets.
That concludes our coverage of FMQs for another week.
Thanks for your company today, and catch you next time.
FM - 'I will always feel responsibility for The Promise'
Labour MSP Martin Whitfield asks what recent action the Scottish government has been taking to keep The Promise to young people in care.
The first minister stresses the government pledges to ensure every child grows up and is "loved, safe and respected".
She points out it is a personal commitment of hers that she will take with her as she leaves government in the next couple of weeks.
Almost £80m has been committed to The Promise in the budget, she says.
The Labour MSP warns there are serious concerns about progress in delivering The Promise.
The FM replies: "I will always feel responsibility for The Promise"
'Will general practice become an extinct profession?' - Tory MSP
Tory MSP Tess White asks about research by the Royal College of General Practitioners reportedly showing a third of Scotland's GP staff surveyed said their practice was at risk of closing in the next few months.
The first minister says she understands the difficulties practices are facing and she thanks GPs and their teams for their work.
Sturgeon points out the survey sample size is small but the government will work to make sure the job is attractive.
Tess White adds: "GPs in the north east have sounded the alarm that general practice will become an extinct profession."
The FM insists her government will continue to support primary care. She adds they are on track to meet their GP targets and stresses the GPs per head of population is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
The number of GPs in Scotland has seen a slight decrease in the past year, the latest figures show.
Impact of Covid on NHS 'can't be ignored' - FM
Nicola Sturgeon says she accepts the conclusions of the Audit Scotland report and will consider each and every one of its recommendations.
She recognises that some staff are feeling burnt out, which is why they were given the “fairest possible pay increase”, she says, which avoided the possibility of strike action.
She acknowledges there is still “much work to do” on waiting times, but says there has been a reduction in the longest waits.
Mr Sarwar reels off a list of figures comparing waiting lists when Humza Yousaf was appointed health secretary to now.
“By every single measure, this health secretary has failed to get the NHS back on track,” he says, adding it is ”the worst it has ever been”.
Ms Sturgeon responds that since Mr Yousaf came into the job, there have been three further waves of Covid and “that can’t just be ignored”.
Government 'took its eye off the ball' on NHS - Sarwar
Nicola Sturgeon thanks Mr Sarwar for his previous comments and says he has “probably got more grace in his wee finger than the Tories combined”.
The FM says the NHS faces the most significant challenges of any point in its history, with changing demographics and ever-increasing expectations even before the pandemic.
She maintains funding for the health service has doubled during her eight years as FM, is higher proportionally than any other part of the UK, while staffing has “increased significantly”.
She does not deny the challenges, but adds the government will focus on addressing them.
The Scottish Labour leader responds by saying the Scottish government “took its eye off the ball” with the NHS and “still hasn’t caught up”, citing some of the Audit Scotland report’s “damning” findings.
“It’s clear Humza Yousaf has failed,” he adds.
FM 'deserves recognition and respect' - Sarwar
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also starts by paying tribute to the people of Ukraine before addressing Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation last week.
He says that while they have had their “fair share of stooshies” and disagree on many things, it is important to note Ms Sturgeon has been at the forefront of Scottish politics for 20 years and as first minister led the country through a global pandemic.
“For that she deserves our recognition and respect,” he says.
Turning to the Audit Scotland report on NHS targets, Mr Sarwar says it is clear NHS boards were already struggling before the pandemic and Covid didn’t cause the problems, but exacerbated them.
“What went wrong?” he asks the FM.
FM finds herself speaking out in defence of Humza Yousaf
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation announcement last week, it was striking how quickly the discussion moved on to who was next.
And it seems like Holyrood is already moving on from her too, because this quickly became questions to the next first minister.
Opposition leaders suspect that may be Humza Yousaf – a man they have had in their sights for months while raising questions about the NHS.
Both the Conservatives and Labour wanted him to resign as health secretary; now they say he is failing upwards into the top job.
Nicola Sturgeon is used to these exchanges about NHS challenges, but there is a new layer of challenge now.
She really doesn’t want to get involved in the leadership contest, but has found herself speaking out in defence of Mr Yousaf – without making it look like an explicit endorsement.
Yesterday, she was boxed into criticism of Kate Forbes, having been asked about the finance secretary’s views on gay marriage – but doesn’t want that to read as a hint to party members studying their ballot papers.
Ms Sturgeon may want to glide above the tumult of the SNP leadership race, but as first minister she has little option but to be dragged into it.
'Douglas Ross is sounding pretty scared of Humza Yousaf'
Ross persists with his attack on Humza Yousaf, lambasting his time as transport and justice secretary and says he is the worst health secretary since devolution.
Sturgeon hits back, saying: "Douglas Ross is sounding pretty scared of Humza Yousaf."
She adds Ross will be scared of whoever becomes first minister.
'Humza Yousaf has made the crisis in the NHS much worse'
Ross says everyone could see Humza Yousaf's NHS recovery plan was "flimsy".
The Scottish Tory leader tells the chamber: "Humza Yousaf has made the crisis in the NHS much worse."
"Why should a health secretary who has failed our NHS get to fail the whole of Scotland?"
Sturgeon says eight and 12-hour A&E waits are down, showing progress.
The numbers waiting the longest for treatment has reduced by nearly a quarter, she adds.
FM says Ross using NHS as 'political weapon'
The first minister insists A&E performance is improving and there are record levels of staff in the NHS.
Sturgeon points out funding for the NHS has doubled and she says Douglas Ross asks people to believe these problems are unique to Scotland.
The Audit Scotland report contradicts this and says they are not unique to Scotland, she says.
She accuses Douglas Ross of turning the NHS into a "political weapon".
'Is this useless health secretary really the best the SNP have to offer?'
Ross hits back saying: "Shameful. Shameful is the only way you could describe that answer from the first minister."
He says the FM didn't mention the patient in Ayrshire who waited for two and a half days in A&E.
The Scottish Tory leader accuses Humza Yousaf of smiling and smirking during this exchange.
He too refers to the Audit Scotland report and asks: "Is this useless health secretary really the best the SNP have to offer?"
FM says Scotland's A&Es remain the best performing of any in the UK
Nicola Sturgeon also marks tomorrow's anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine by expressing her solidarity with the Ukrainians.
The first minister turns to the issues of the NHS and begins by saying it is for the members of the SNP to elect a new leader.
Sturgeon says Humza Yousaf is the only health secretary anywhere in the UK that has managed to avoid a single day of strikes in the NHS.
She adds Scotland's A&Es remain the best performing of any in the UK and accuses Douglas Ross of behaving like the pandemic had never happened.
BACKGROUND: Scottish NHS jobs targets unlikely to be met, says Audit Scotland
NHS jobs targets under Scotland's Covid recovery plan are "unlikely to be met", Audit Scotland has warned.
The public spending watchdog urged ministers to be "transparent" about hospital backlogs and provide health boards with achievable targets.
And it called for more support for patients stuck on long waiting lists.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said it would take years for the NHS to recover, but opposition MSPs described his record as "shambolic".
Ross questions Yousaf's ability to do job he has at the moment
The Scottish Conservative leader begins by paying tribute to the people of Ukraine for their courage in their fight against Putin.
Douglas Ross reminds the chamber Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is resigning and he says Humza Yousaf is the frontrunner to replace him.
Ross says Scotland's NHS has lurched further and further into crisis and he cites the case of a patient in the Borders who waited 49 hours to be treated in A&E.
He says a patient in Ayrshire waited 60 hours to be treated.
"Doesn't this confirm that Humza Yousaf isn't even up to the job he has at the moment?"
FMQs is under way...
Nicola Sturgeon is poised ready in her seat and Douglas Ross has gotten to his feet as FMQs begins.
What can we expect from FMQs today?
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Towards the end of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation speech, you got the feeling a weight had been lifted from the departing first minister’s shoulders.
And even as the race to replace her has grown increasingly fractious, Ms Sturgeon has been bantering with Andy Murray on Twitter and posting her hillwalks on Instagram.
For the the first time in years, she has not been the central focus of political debate. Instead the tough questions have been posed to her potential successors, as their mettle is stress-tested in the heat of a leadership race.
But Ms Sturgeon will have to put her zen feelings to one side for today and dust off her trademark ring-binder of answers.
The list of potential topics is, as ever, lengthy - ranging from teaching strikes currently targeted at her own constituency to a critical audit report about the NHS.
That underlines the scale of the challenges facing Ms Sturgeon’s successor - and also why she may be so relieved that this will all soon be someone else’s problem.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first FMQs since Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning last week.
Scotland's politics has since been dominated by the SNP leadership campaign - with Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf considered the two main contenders, and Ash Regan due to officially launch her bid on Friday.
We can expect that contest to be mentioned more than once today.
We'll bring you updates, background reports and analysis, and you can watch along with us by hitting the play icon at the top of the page.