Image source, Getty Images

Humza Yousaf's first FMQs was hit by a series of disruptions from climate protestors.

The public gallery in the Holyrood chamber was eventually cleared after the session was suspended five times in the first 15 minutes.

The interruptions have been an almost weekly occurrence during first minister's questions since the start of the year, with the parliament's presiding officer pledging to take action to stop them.

Addressing MSPs, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said: "I don't think I can adequately express my deep regret that such action is required in our national parliament.

"I'm extremely sorry for the overwhelming majority of those who have travelled to the parliament today to watch their elected representatives at work."

What did we learn from Humza Yousaf’s FMQs debut?published at 13:25 British Summer Time 30 March 2023

13:25 BST 30 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The new first minister came out swinging. He opted for a robust – almost aggressive – tone with the Conservatives in particular.

Part of that may have been first-day nerves; Nicola Sturgeon had done this hundreds of times, and was well-practiced in shrugging off barbs in the clamour of the chamber.

Mr Yousaf did repeat many of her favourite lines – about “taking no lessons” from the Tories, the SNP’s electoral record, the impact of the pandemic on services, and the importance of independence.

In terms of policy, he has also defended the current slate of priorities of the government.

And he stuck to his campaign pledge to make tackling child poverty a “defining mission”.

That can be a difficult thing to measure – tracking of most metrics was paused during the pandemic – and perhaps an even more difficult goal to achieve.

He may hear much more about that in the years to come. Mr Yousaf may develop his style on the front bench, but the intensity of these exchanges is unlikely to let up.

Fulton MacGregor of the SNP highlights the Scotland men’s football team’s Euro qualifying triumph over Spain on Tuesday.

He says unlike fans in England and Wales, Scottish fans don’t have access to their country’s matches on free-to-air TV, and asks if the FM agrees there should be better access for such games?

Humza Yousaf says he “couldn’t be clearer” that both women’s and men's international matches should be part of the UK government’s "crown jewels" of listed events that must be kept on free-to-air TV.

“Sadly the UK government have failed to act,” Yousaf says, but he adds the Scottish government will continue to press their UK counterparts to expand the listed events.

He hopes Scotland’s triumph will “inspire people of all ages to get active”, he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart says the issue of racism in Scottish cricket has not been taken seriously.

She argues "enough is enough" and "polished PR from Cricket Scotland just won't cut it and we need action".

The first minister pays tribute to many cricket players who have put their heads above the parapet.

Yousaf goes on to say there is no place for racism in any kind of sport.

The final decision on whether Cricket Scotland exits special measures imposed by funding body Sportscotland will be dependent on all recommendations from a report being met.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour says many of his constituents have yet to be paid the Scottish Child Payment.

He says when trying to assist those constituents, he was told ‘don’t even bother Social Security Scotland until next month because we can’t make that payment’.

Yousaf’s first decision as FM was to remove the ministry for social security, he adds, and asks him to look at it again.

Humza Yousaf says he is happy to look at individual cases, as will the new cabinet secretary for social justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville.

But the FM says the Conservatives are “utterly shameless” after what he calls a decade of austerity and “economic vandalism” which means energy prices and inflation are “sky high”.

“They literally took money out of the pockets of those on universal credit during the pandemic,” he says, adding no-one believes Balfour’s “crocodile tears” as a result of “Tory cruelty”.

Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy asks for a response to the poverty statistics published last week in the Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland report.

The first minister says poverty levels are lower than the UK average, but he states "they remain unacceptably high".

Yousaf calls for the full devolution of social security and points to the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment.

There will be an anti-poverty summit, he says.

Duncan-Glancy argues the first minister has failed to tackle poverty for ten years and says he has failed to appoint social security minister.

The cabinet secretary for social justice is "sitting right there, she's waving at you", he says.

Anars Sarwar says the FM can’t use the pandemic as an excuse because the government has not met the standard on treatment time for 16 years.

Incompetence has consequences, says the Scottish Labour leader. He gives an example of a 10-year-old boy who has been waiting for his treatment to start the entire time Yousaf was health secretary.

He quotes the child’s father, saying his son feels he has been "constantly let down".

Sarwar says Yousaf failed the child's family as health secretary, so why will he be any different as FM?

Yousaf responds that he will be more than happy to receive details of the individual case and assist in any way he can.

He acknowledges there are challenges, but insists the health service is starting to see a recovery.

The FM says overall mental health treatment waiting lists for young people have decreased by around 777, while the number of children waiting over 18 weeks has dropped by 1,110.

There has also been a 41.9% drop in the number waiting over 52 weeks, he adds.

Former health secretary is familiar with these lines of questioningpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 30 March 2023

12:41 BST 30 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Humza Yousaf was the continuity candidate for the SNP leadership – and this quickly turned into continuity FMQs.

After Douglas Ross led on constitutional issues and criticism of the SNP’s record, Anas Sarwar led, as ever, on health services.

As in many of these sessions this year, he had brought a case study of a patient who has been let down.

Mr Yousaf – a former health secretary – is familiar with these lines of questioning.

And he again lifted a familiar defence from the Sturgeon era, saying Mr Sarwar had failed to take account of the impact of the Covid pandemic, before reading out a list of statistics about waiting times.

Labour see health as a policy they can hammer away at in the runup to the next election – so again, these exchanges will likely set the tone for a long-running debate between the leaders.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar asks about the mental health crisis for children in Scotland struggling to access treatment.

He says more than 11,000 children and young people waited more than the 18-week standard and over 14,000 had referrals rejected entirely.

He asks if the former health secretary would like to offer an apology?

Humza Yousaf says Sarwar does not acknowledge the global impact of the Covid pandemic, but "of course" he offers an apology and “deep regret” for anyone who has had to wait longer than they should.

The new FM says the Scottish government is taking action on recovery and the number of children starting treatment in the most recent quarter is the highest figure on record.

Scotland's "progressive taxation" means a a record £19bn has been invested in the health service, he adds.

A familiar song at FMQspublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 30 March 2023

12:37 BST 30 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

A new first minister taking questions on a Thursday, but otherwise a rather familiar song playing at Holyrood.

Humza Yousaf has appointed a minister for independence, which opened the door for Douglas Ross to launch into a constitutional rammy.

And the Tory leader said the splits within the SNP over the leadership race had left the new first minister a divisive figure even on his first day.

In his first session, Mr Yousaf has also opted for a robust tone.

He attacked the record of the UK government, and borrowed one of Nicola Sturgeon’s favourite retorts – that he would “take no lessons” from the Conservatives.

And he also used her favourite defence of her legacy – the SNP’s record of electoral success.

This rather feisty dynamic is going to become a familiar one as both parties look ahead to future elections – today has set quite a tone for the clashes between the two leaders over the coming years.

Douglas Ross says huge challenges are coming in public finances and asks: "Is this really the team that can tackle that?"

He says there is a concerning lack of numeracy skills within this group.

The first minister hits back saying Ross is desperate.

Yousaf says the public have put their trust in the SNP election, after election, after election.

He defends his "incredible cabinet" saying he is "proud to have a team full of talent".

Image source, Ge

Humza Yousaf says his first act is to not just double the fuel insecurity fund, it's to triple it to £30m.

The first minister adds: "That is speaking to the priorities of the Scottish people."

He says: "Of course I will advance the cause of independence."

Before proceedings continue, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone takes a point of order from Stuart McMillan MSP.

He says that young people from his constituency have now been forced to leave the public gallery after being caught up in the interruption.

He requests they be allowed back in and the presiding officer agrees to wait for a few minutes so security can bring them back into the gallery.

Five protests inside first set of questionspublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 30 March 2023

12:20 BST 30 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Protests have become a regular feature of FMQs in recent months, but today might have been a new record with FIVE inside the first set of questions.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone told MSPs that there are plans to try to crack down on this.

But they chiefly consist of banning the use of mobile phones in the chamber, it is not clear if they will have a decisive effect.

Indeed given the protests consist entirely of people shouting, it’s difficult to think of a foolproof method to actually prevent them.

The public gallery has been cleared for today.

The absolute last resort would be to bar people from sitting there at all – something which the parliamentary authorities will be loathe to consider, given that transparent scrutiny is the whole point of Holyrood.

Douglas Ross says says: "It's the same old from the SNP, another nationalist leader, when Scotland needs a national leader."

The Scottish Tory leader says that within minutes of becoming SNP leader he pushed for the powers to hold indyref2.

He says he demanded another independence vote when he spoke to the PM.

On Wednesday he says Yousaf appointed a minister for independence.

Is that really the priority for the people of Scotland?, he asks.

Douglas Ross tries to continue but an ongoing protest leads to another suspension of business.

Humza Yousaf gets to his feet for the first time in FMQs.

The first minister says: "Can I say presiding officer, how delighted I am to have appointed the cabinet with the most number of women in it in the history of devolution."

He says he is also delighted to have so many members under the age of 40.

Douglas Ross says: "This is the largest government since devolution with more ministers than ever before."

The Scottish Tory leader tells the chamber key ministerial posts relating to tourism and social security were abolished yet a new minister for independence was created.

Before Douglas Ross can start, there is a protest in the gallery yet again.

Humza Yousaf is sitting poised, waiting for his inaugural FMQs to get under way.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross gets to his feet and we're off.