That's all from FMQs this week. If you're just joining us, here's a reminder of today's headlines:

• Douglas Ross and Humza Yousaf clash over Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ)
• The Scottish Tory leader says it creates a "low economy zone"
• Hitting back, the FM argues the serious problems of air pollution must be tackled and he criticises the Tories for opposing measures to tackle climate change
• More than 18,000 people died last year while on NHS waiting lists, and that is what Anas Sarwar raises
• The Scottish Labour leader argues a "two-tier" NHS in Scotland is being created due to the use of private healthcare
• Yousaf accepts his government must do more in terms of NHS recovery but points to private healthcare being used across the UK
• The debacle over the Deposit Return Scheme, the "derisory" settlement offered to Community Pharmacy Scotland and the cancellation of ferry services to South Uist throughout June are all raised

Thank you for joining us. Paul McLaren was today's editor. Andrew Picken, Craig Hutchison, Auryn Cox, Morven Mackinnnon and Jack Ewing were the writers.

Concerns that nearly one in five eligible youngsters could lose out on the new Scottish Child Payment scheme are raised by Labour MSP Paul O’Kane.

Scottish Fiscal Commission figures show that in 2023/24 around 370,000 children will be eligible for the welfare payment, but only 309,000 are forecast to benefit from it.

O’Kane points to fears the scheme is not being promoted enough and asks Yousaf if he will “address this concerning disparity”.

The first minister tells Holyrood he can give “an assurance that this a key area of focus” for his government.

Image source, Calmac

As the ongoing ferries saga continues, CalMac has cancelled almost every ferry service to Lochboisdale in South Uist in June, due to continuing problems with its ageing fleet.

The MV Hebridean Isles was expected to return to the Islay route this weekend but instead it will be in dry dock as its "pitch control issues" continue.

Four new ferries are being built in Turkey for Scotland's west coast routes and they are expected to be delivered by 2025.

However, two ferries being built on the Clyde have been at the centre of controversy over the procurement process, delays and spiralling costs.

• Read More
• The problem with CalMac's ageing ferries

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan raises ferry operator CalMac's announcement that it is cancelling services to South Uist throughout June.

He asks what more the Scottish government could do to challenge CalMac's decision given that the route has seen a thrid of its services cancelled this year.

The first minister says he recognises the "significant disruption" the decision will have for communities on Uist.

Yousaf adds he will explore "every avenue" to keep disruption down to a minimum.

Image source, Spindrift

Scotland's judicial system has been left under the spotlight after the case of Sean Hogg, who raped a 13-year-old girl when he was 17 but was given 270 hours of community service.

This was due to the judge applying new sentencing guidelines for under-25s.

The new guidelines aim to make rehabilitation rather than punishment a primary consideration when sentencing young offenders.

But there has been public outcry over the case after Judge Lord Lake said that if Hogg had committed the crime when he was over 25, he would have given him a jail sentence of four or five years.

• Read more
• 'Unduly lenient' sentence of rapist Sean Hogg to be appealed
• New sentencing guidelines for under 25s come into force

Labour's Pauline McNeill questions the first minister on new sentencing guidelines for dealing with under-25s which came into effect in January 2022.

Yousaf replies that the guidelines are entirely a matter for the independent judge-led Scottish Sentencing Council.

"I'm pleased that reoffending levels have fallen over the last decade and this is helping to keep our communities safe," he says.

"It should be noted that the position in the guidelines is that custody is of course still an option for sentencing young people and it is of course completely right this option remains available to the court in any given case."

Reports of a mental health crisis emerging in the early years sector are raised by Scottish Conservative MSP Megan Gallagher.

She claims the SNP government “have done nothing” to tackle problems in the childcare industry and links it to new figures which show thousands of nursery and childcare workers taking sick leave as a result of stress and other mental health issues.

Mr Yousaf points out Scotland’s childcare offer for early years is the most generous in the UK but says he recognises the challenges facing the sector.

He adds he wants to expand the free childcare on offer in Scotland.

Christine Grahame raises the issue of reports that the Community Pharmacy Scotland Board has described the financial settlement that it has been offered as "derisory".

The FM highlights funding to community pharmacies and pledges ongoing engagement.

The SNP's Grahame then asks if the FM agrees pharmacies can take the pressure off GPs - and Yousaf duly agrees.

Pharmacy First has become a key part of the remobilisation of the NHS.

Image source, Getty Images

Labour MSP Carol Mochan then warns opening hours could be reduced and services cut back and she asks if the first minister will personally meet with representatives of Community Pharmacy Scotland to resolve this issue.

Yousaf points out funding has been increased year-on-year for the last five years and £52 per person is spent each year on pharmaceutical services.

He is hopeful an agreed position can be reached "sooner rather than later".

Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane accuses the SNP of not caring about community pharmacies.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr accuses Humza Yousaf of “shameful hypocrisy” on his record of protecting Scotland’s environment.

Mr Kerr points to cuts to forestry and Scottish Water budgets as examples that the first minister’s rhetoric is not matched by his actions.

But Yousaf hits back and says the Scottish government has an excellent record in these areas, adding the Tories regularly reject pro-environment measures.

He says, “Every time we bring forward a measure to tackle the climate emergency it is opposed by the Conservatives time and time again.”

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) could be scrapped after Westminster refused to give the green light for glass to be included.

The DRS will see a surcharge added to the price of single-use products such as glass, which will be refunded when they are recycled.

However, the UK government said this would differ too much from their scheme which is set to be rolled out in 2025.

The Scottish government's Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has called this an attempt to sabotage the plans.

• Read More
• Tennent's brewer says deposit return scheme change threatens jobs

Green MSP Ariane Burgess asks what priority the Scottish government gives to protecting Scotland's environment.

The first minister replies that Scotland's natural environment is "central to our identity as a nation".

He says his government is committed to protecting Scotland's environment and reiterates his claim that the UK government is seeking to "sabotage" the DRS scheme.

Burgess also references the DRS scheme, saying MSPs should get on with the job that Holyrood voted for.

Yousaf accuses the Tories of "shameful hypocrisy" in now backing the exclusion of glass from the DRS.

A surge in people going private for healthcare is creating a “two-tier” NHS in Scotland, claims Anas Sarwar.

The Scottish Labour leader says the Scottish government missing a target to eliminate long waits for NHS treatment is one of the reasons for this.

Humza Yousaf points out people turning to private treatment is affecting the NHS across the UK.

He adds: “I don’t want anybody to have to feel the only choice that they have is to go to is private healthcare.”

A Scottish government target to eliminate long waits for NHS treatment has been missed, new figures show.

Last summer, the then health secretary Humza Yousaf set a goal to eradicate waits of more than a year to see a doctor or nurse as an outpatient.

Image source, Science Photo Library

But Public Health Scotland (PHS) data shows 31,498 patients were still waiting more than a year as of March this year.

The Scottish government said the number of people with long waits was falling.

• Read More:
• Scottish government pledges to 'eradicate' long NHS waiting times
• More than 550,000 on Scottish hospital waiting lists

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar leads with data which he says shows more than 18,000 people died last year while on NHS waiting lists.

The Glasgow MSP tells Holyrood “these are not just numbers but people waiting in pain” and says the equivalent death toll in 2017 was 7,868.

Humza Yousaf says he accepts his government has to do more in terms of the NHS recovery and adds he does not want to see “a single person having to wait longer than they have to”.

The first minister adds that the impact of the Covid pandemic is still being felt in Scotland’s health service.

Ross tells the chamber more than three quarters of a million cars will be penalised in Scotland if drivers go through the LEZ.

"The LEZ is hurting charities' ability to function," he continues.

He adds it's risking jobs and will create a "low economy zone."

Yousaf hits back saying any delay would have led to more people suffering from asthma and lung conditions.

The FM insists every time the SNP government brings forward climate change action, Douglas Ross and his Conservative MSPs oppose it.

He points to the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and accuses the UK government of not supporting green initiatives.

Image source, Getty Images

The FM argues there has been a "considerable lead-in time" for Glasgow's LEZ and "there has been extensive engagement".

Yousaf tells the chamber the LEZ Support Fund offered help to households and small businesses to scrap non-compliant vehicles.

"I oppose it when the SNP make a shambolic mess of every one of these schemes that they bring in," hits back Ross.

The Scottish Tory leader says the delivery of this scheme has been tone deaf to the needs of the city and charities.

He turns to businesses in Glasgow and quotes Steven Grant from Unite Glasgow Taxi Drivers who has said this damaging plan will be "devastating" to the industry.

Ross cites a number of other businesses with concerns about the scheme and warns it will put jobs at risk.

The first minister commends the work being done by the Homeless Project and argues that it has to feed so many people due to Tory austerity causing the cost of living crisis.

Yousaf urges Glasgow to engage with charities about the LEZ and the process for exemptions is on the Glasgow City Council website.

The serious problems of air pollution must be tackled, argues the FM.

He says Ross opposes the scheme simply because the SNP proposed it.

Ross argues the problem with the LEZ policy is its delivery.

The Scottish Tory leader insists there have been numerous warnings about the implementation of the policy from people and organisations, including charities.

He says Homeless Project Scotland have said they were refused an exemption to use a refrigerated van which helps to feed 300 people every day in the restricted area.

Ross asks if Yousaf agrees the charity deserves an exemption from the scheme.

Image source, Getty Images

Glasgow's low emission zone (LEZ) has come into force today, banning many older vehicles from the centre of Scotland's biggest city.

Vehicles which do not meet emission standards are no longer able to enter parts of the city centre - and owners face fines which can rise to several hundreds of pounds per day.

A last-ditch legal challenge to the scheme was thrown out by a Court of Session judge on Wednesday.

The zone is bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south, and the Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

• Read more
• How does Glasgow's low emission zone work?
• Glasgow's low emission zone legal challenge fails