Humza Yousaf is facing questions from opposition party leaders during first minister's questions
The session is being held as police continue their investigation into the SNP's finances
It was once again interrupted by a protestor in the public gallery despite new measures being brought in to try to stop it happening
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross raised the case of a man who was not jailed despite being convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl
Due to new sentencing guidelines for under 25s, Sean Hogg was instead given 270 hours of unpaid work
Mr Yousaf said he believed rapists should go to prison, but stressed the decision was for judges to take based on all of the available facts
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar raised the ongoing CalMac ferry crisis that has hit many island routes in recent weeks
The first minister is currently the SNP's acting treasurer following the resignation of Colin Beattie on Wednesday
Mr Beattie had been arrested by officers as part of the finance investigation the previous day before being released without charge pending further inquiries
That's all from this week's live coverage of FMQs, thank you for joining us.
Today's live page was edited by Paul Hastie and Stuart Nicolson. The writers were Debbie Jackson and Craig Hutchison.
Former UK Brexit Minister Lord Frost
Senior Tory Lord David Frost has called for devolution to be "reversed"
Writing in the Telegraph, external, he said "Not only must no more powers be devolved to Scotland, it’s time to reverse the process."
The former UK cabinet minister praised Tory Scottish Secretary Alister Jack for using a Section 35 order to clamp down on devolved powers.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said: "The Tory mask has slipped. It's clear Westminster's repeated attacks on Scotland are a deliberate, co-ordinated attempt to reverse devolution."
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “Lord Frost is a backbench peer and entitled to his personal views.
“Our view, shared by the UK Party, is that the problem is not with devolution but with this divided and distracted SNP Government.”
SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop brings up Tory peer David Frost's comments in the Telegraph newspaper on dismantling devolution.
She asks if it is "for all MSPs from all parties to defend this parliament from this attack on democracy?
"Absolutely," says Yousaf.
He says the SNP-led Scottish government "will always defend our democracy and defend the voice and the will of the Scottish people."
Quote MessageLord Frost, unelected Tory peer gave the game away, said the quiet bit out loud, he said what every single Scottish Conservative really thinks.
Humza Yousaf, First minister
Image source, Science Photo LibraryAbout 13,000 patients who have had a hysterectomy are expected to need further tests.
Thousands of women are to be called for smear tests after errors in Scotland's cervical screening programme.
In June 2021 it was discovered that several women had died from cervical cancer after being wrongly excluded from NHS Scotland's screening list.
Now a further review expects to find 13,000 patients who have had a hysterectomy will need further tests.
The Scottish government said the risk to people excluded from the screening programme was low.
Women aged 25-64 are offered smear tests checking for human papillomavirus (HPV) which is the main cause of cervical cancer.
Lib Dem MSP Beatrice Wishart asks what urgent action the Scottish government is taking to ensure that everyone who is eligible for any cancer screening programme is receiving their invitation on time.
This question is asked after recent reports that 13,000 women who were mistakenly removed from the national database are being offered an appointment for a cervical smear.
Humza Yousaf replies that this is an "incredibly important issue indeed" and says the national audit of the programme is under way.
The first minister says the final stage of the audit is precautionary and funding has been made available to GPs to ensure they can absorb any increase in demand.
Islanders in Tiree have said proposed new marine protection measures would wipe out the local fishing industry.
The Scottish government has committed to designating at least 10% of Scotland's seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).
Fishing would be banned in the zones as part of efforts to protect important habitats from human activity.
Tiree Community Council and Tiree Community Development Trust said HPMAs posed an "existential threat".
Image source, Getty ImagesDonald Cameron, for the Scottish Conservatives, asks the FM if he will scrap the Scottish Government's plans for highly protected marine areas, following the end of its public consultation.
He says "not one community in the Highlands and Islands want these" saying they will devastate coastal communities and threaten the way of life for the fishing sector.
Yousaf says there are no plans yet - there are no set sites or criteria yet following a recent consultation - but he wants to work with coastal communities to reach the outcome of a sustainable marine environment.
He says the government will not impose any policy on a community that they are opposed to and says Just Transition cabinet secretary Màiri McAllan will engage with people to reach agreement.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
One of today’s most eye-catching questions to the first minister came not from the opposition benches, but from a former Scottish government minister.
Fergus Ewing has carved out a role as a tub-thumping titan of the back benches, and fired off a typically furious query about gas extraction from the north sea.
There were actually some whoops from the Conservative benches as he built steam, talking about any shutdown of exploration as “economic masochism”.
And his final eruption – referring to the Greens as “wine bar revolutionaries” – drew a rebuke from the deputy presiding officer, one Annabelle Ewing.
Like anyone ticked off in public by their little sister, Mr Ewing looked suitably abashed.
But his blow had landed, in perhaps one of the most effective interventions of the day.
Image source, Getty ImagesAudit Scotland said targets for reducing emissions would be missed if there were no improvements
A new report has said many of the Scottish government's plans to tackle the risk of climate change are "vague".
Audit Scotland also said there were blurred lines over who was accountable for the actions.
It said that without improvements there was a risk that key targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero would be missed.
The Scottish government said it welcomed the report and wanted to strengthen its approach.
Opposition parties said the report demonstrated that almost no meaningful action had been taken.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a climate emergency in 2019, setting a target of achieving net zero by 2045.
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing asks if the FM agrees that sacrificing the development of Scotland's oil and gas resource would decimate tens of thousands of jobs.
He says it would be an example of "economic masochism advocated by the wine bar revolutionaries in the Green party".
The former government minister argues it would also make climate change worse.
Deputy Presiding Officer Annabelle Ewing warns her brother about his language.
Humza Yousaf jokes that will not be the first time she has had to warn her brother.
The FM insists no-one in the Green Party has said extraction must stop tomorrow and he again emphasises the need for a just transition.
Image source, Getty ImagesGreen MSP Maggie Chapman asks for an update on what engagement the Scottish government has had with UK ministers over the proposed development of the Rosebank oil and gas field, in light of the Scottish Government's draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
The FM explains that licensing of offshore gas remains reserved.
Yousaf says oil extraction is not the solution to the energy crisis and insists the government is committed to a just transition.
Chapman says there should be a presumption against the extraction of new gas and oil.
The FM agrees that there should be a "fossil fuel free future" and pledges to take the workers of the north east with him.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Humza Yousaf sees his long and varied experience of government as an asset.
But his opponents also see it as an opportunity to hit him with questions about things he used to be responsible for. Douglas Ross went for justice issues, and Anas Sarwar focused on transport.
Labour are looking forward to the next election, and Mr Sarwar spent recess touring around some key target seats.
One of those is in the Western Isles, which is why the Labour leader made what amounted to a stump speech about ferry provision.
Mr Yousaf meanwhlie fell back on a common Nicola Sturgeon defence – pointing to the SNP’s record of electoral success in these areas.
He says it’s his administration which will provide people with a fresh start.
The next opportunity to find out what voters make of all this is likely some way off – but the battle lines are already being drawn.
Sarwar hits back saying island communities do not believe the first minister. "Businesses are failing right now and people need support right now," he says.
He attacks Yousaf, listing previous "failures" as transport minister, justice secretary and health secretary.
He says he is, three weeks in, "a failed first minister bogged down in scandal" and asks why Scots should keep paying the price for SNP failure?
The FM fights back saying his policy perspectives delivered on Tuesday were supported by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Transform Scotland, and other business and third sector organisations.
Sarwar says the SNP government has "failed to get a grip" and has cost island residents "dearly".
He cites the financial impact on the local economy and says for some no ferry means no income, no jobs, no people.
He asks if the FM will commit to compensating islanders and passing on fines collected from Calmac to the people affected.
Yousaf regrets any delays and disruptions and says "easy soundbites and silly personal attacks around Comical Ali won't help island communities one single bit".
He claims the vast majority of sailings take place when they are supposed to.
He says he looks forward to the charter of the MV Alfred coming on board in the next few days.
Image source, CALMACThe MV Alfred is joining CalMac's west coast network for nine months
An extra ferry is expected to join the CalMac fleet, after safety inspectors have given the go-ahead for an older vessel to take its place.
Pentland Ferries' MV Alfred will join the state-owned firm for nine months.
The catamaran Pentalina will return to service on the Orkney to Caithness route to replace MV Alfred.
The Scottish government paid £9m to Pentland Ferries for the charter, after the CalMac fleet was hit by breakdowns and a shortage of capacity.
Image source, CalMacLabour leader Anas Sarwar brings up the subject of ferries.
He cites residents in the Western Isles who have told him of the consequences of cancelled ferries - cancelled cancer appointments, lack of supplies and "businesses going to the wall".
He asks who was the "incompetent transport minister" who promised in 2017 that resolving the Western Isles ferry crisis was a priority?
Yousaf recognises the challenges those who rely on ferry services have faced in recent weeks.
He says the Scottish government is taking action including additional vessels, the commissioning of new vessels and investments in ports and harbours.
Sarwar calls this a great example of "what is typical of this administration" and refers to "Comical Ali" saying "everything is fine while the house burns down behind us".
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Douglas Ross couldn’t resist dropping in a question about the SNP’s finances, for all that he knew it would be frowned upon by the deputy presiding officer.
Mr Yousaf was happy to attempt an answer, for all that it was predictably interrupted by a protest in the public gallery.
If the exchanges had continued in this vein, it could have produced a pretty riotous session.
But instead it developed into one of those exchanges which takes place in a hush, as Mr Ross focused the rest of his questions on criminal justice issues and the punishment for those convicted of rape.
Mr Yousaf is a former justice secretary, but that doesn’t mean he was any more comfortable dealing with this issue than he was with those in his party.
It’s an early lesson for him in the sharp turns these sessions can take, and the broad range of tonal responses which are required.
Douglas Ross quotes the victim who asked why it was OK to rape anyone and not go to jail,
The Scottish Tory leader insists 100% of rapists should go to prison.
The FM agrees with the sentiment that if someone commits a rape they should go to jail, but he also backs the independence of the judiciary.
Yousaf points out that courts can still impose a custodial sentence on a young person.
He says he takes what the victim and her grandfather are saying and adds that a Criminal Justice Reform Bill will be introduced to improve the outcomes of justice.
The Scottish Tory leader turns to the case of the 13-year-old girl who was raped in a park in Dalkeith.
He says the attacker Sean Hogg was found guilty of rape but he didn't go to prison.
Ross blames the sentencing guidelines and say the SNP's justice system is broken.
The FM understands people do have concerns but reiterates his point sentencing if for the independent judiciary.
Yousaf says everyone would sympathise with the strong feelings of the victim.