Anas Sarwar raised the Scottish government’s new 10-year strategy for cancer, saying treatment standards had not been met for a decade
The Scottish Labour leader highlighted the case of a 76-year-old man from Lewis who had been told no appropriate
oncologist was available to supervise his treatment
Humza Yousaf defended the
government’s record, saying the health service was still dealing with backlogs
from the pandemic, and that the latest figures reflected a positive trajectory
That concludes our coverage of this week's FMQs. The editor was Paul McLaren and the writers were Bryn Palmer, Craig Hutchison, Morven Mckinnon and Auryn Cox.
Thank you for joining us.
Scottish SPCA facing 'financial crisis'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Christine Grahame higlights reports that Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity, the Scottish SPCA, is in financial crisis.
The FM replies the Scottish government takes animal welfare verys seriously, unlike the "callous approach" of the Tory government.
Yousaf says the Scottish SPCA are on the frontline of the cost of living crisis and he adds he's asked officials to liaise with the charity over support.
SNP backbencher Grahame focuses on companion animals and the heartbreak when people can no longer afford to keep them.
She explains it costs £56,000 per day to run the Scottish SPCA, to which Yousaf replies nobobdy should have to give up a loved pet.
The FM praises the Scottish SPCA Pet Aid Scheme.
Warnings over new-build heating systems raised
Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle asks about concerns that the Scottish government’s proposals to ban gas and other direct
emission heating systems in new-build homes from next year could have a serious
adverse impact on the housing sector.
The climate friendly system will apply to all new buildings from next April, the FM says, and is just one
part of the programme to meet climate change targets.
Whittle says the plans are "shaping up to be another Scottish Green-led mess", with warnings that fewer houses will be built, prices will rise and there will be a lack of qualified engineers to install the pledged one million heat pumps by 2030.
The FM responds that the most important thing is having a sustainable planet to hand on to future
generations, but insists the Tories have opposed every measure on meeting climate targets.
Tory MSP highlights closure of 40 schools in recent years
BBCCopyright: BBC
Tory MSP Stephen Kerr says last weekend the Herald newspaper revealed 40 mainly rural schools had been closed or moth-balled in recent years.
Kerr accuses the SNP government of having a "blatant disregard" for rural areas, adding families are being left "high and dry".
He says there are 15 more schools at risk of closure, including Blackness School, and asks the FM to send a strong message of support to schools.
The first minister does not agree with Stephen Kerr's characterisation and he points out these are decisions for local authorities to take.
Yousaf says the SNP brought in further protetctions for rural schools, insisting alternatives to closure must be looked at and educational benefits considered.
There are a range of actions being undertaken to address depopulation, which has been made worse by a "hard Brexit", the FM says.
Analysis
A noticeable change in tone between Sarwar and Yousaf
Anas Sarwar led as he does most weeks on health issues,
specifically cancer services.
The Labour leader continues to call for change, leaning both
on the fact Humza Yousaf was formerly the health secretary, but also the fact
the SNP has been in government since 2007.
This might underline the party’s longevity and
election-winning record – but Mr Sarwar hopes that the current state of
services will mean that record becomes a drag on the SNP’s chances next time
out.
Mr Yousaf has faced dozens of these kinds of questions even
just since taking over as first minister, and as ever cited the disruption of
the Covid pandemic in his responses.
But for all the familiarity, this felt less personal than
the usually barbed exchanges between the two leaders.
This was a serious topic which may have been elevated
somewhat above the normally chippy atmosphere of the SNP-Labour rivalry.
'People cannot afford to wait - the crisis is now' - Sarwar
Sarwar
welcomes the FM’s response but asks him to look at the case urgently, saying it shouldn’t take bringing individual cases to parliament for people to get
life-saving surgery.
The new
strategy published today says the workforce review won’t conclude until 2026,
he points out, but “people cannot afford to wait - the crisis is now”, he adds.
Yousaf says
that before the pandemic the government was consistently meeting the 31-day treatment
standard and latest figures showed they were in 94.1% of cases, with the median
waiting time five days.
“I don’t
believe people should have to wait longer,” the FM says, adding that 35% more
people are being treated on the 62-day pathway than 10 years ago.
Cancer waits mean 'life and death for people across Scotland'
Sarwar
highlights the case of a 76-year-old man, Malcolm Graham, from Lewis, who had a
tumour removed last year but last month was told the cancer had returned in his
liver and lungs.
The
Scottish Labour leader quotes from a letter Mr Graham received this week saying
the health board “currently don’t have an appropriate oncologist” to supervise his
treatment and that “sadly this means he is likely to experience some delay and disruption”.
BBCCopyright: BBC
“This is life and death for people across the country,” says Sarwar and asks why there is no oncologist available in Scotland?
Yousaf says he is not aware of the details but would be happy to receive them. The FM says there is a global shortage of oncologists but the number in Scotland has seen almost a 100% increase since 2007.
He adds the Scottish government has also increased the number of consultant radiologists in Scotland at a higher rate than other parts of the UK, but they know "there is still work to do".
Background: New 10-year plan aims to cut late-stage cancer diagnosis
The Scottish government has published its new cancer strategy which aims to significantly cut the number of people diagnosed at a later stage.
The10-year plan also intends to reduce the health inequalities associated with the disease.
About 42% of cancers are currently diagnosed at the later stages.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
However, the government's ambition is to reduce the number of people diagnosed at stages three and four to 24% by 2033.
This would mean about 5,000 fewer people diagnosed with later stage disease in 10 years' time.
He says
the 62-day treatment standard has not been met for a decade and the new action
plan doesn’t mention it. When will it be met, he asks.
Humza
Yousaf says there are challenges because of the shock of the pandemic and the
new strategy is an important plan which has been welcomed by stakeholders.
Pausing
cancer screenings for a number of months during the pandemic was “arguably the most
difficult decision the government had to take”.
They
are working through the backlog and although they are not meeting the 62-day
target, the FM says they are “close” to meeting the 31-day target and are
seeing more people through both the 31- and 62-day pathways, he adds.
Cancer
and recovery waiting times are of “the highest priority”, Yousaf says.
Douglas Ross hung his questions on a rather technical issue
– a Government Initiated Question which would have prompted an update on the A9
project being pulled at Holyrood.
But he had a much broader point about road safety and the
big questions hanging over the dualling scheme.
Mr Ross lives at the opposite end of the A9 from Humza
Yousaf, and hopes to paint the first minister as leading a party with its head
stuck in the central belt.
But Mr Yousaf is a former transport minister, and has this
week elevated the portfolio to a full cabinet job. That was in response to
concerns about ferry projects, but roads will play into it too.
He also reeled off a list of big road projects delivered
across the country, from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to the
Queensferry Crossing.
That drew applause from his SNP colleagues, but may go down
rather less well with his Green partners in government who are much less keen
on laying new tarmac.
'Cast-iron guarantee' on dualling
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Scottish Tory leader insistst Yousaf must have known a new transport minister was to be put in place, when the question on the A9 was first tabled.
He asks for all relevant correspondence pertaining to the issue of the withdrawn government question to be published.
He again asks: "How many more people have to die before this road is fully dualled?"
Yousaf says it will not take until 2050 to dual the A9 and there will be an update to parliament once the work is done over the summer.
The FM blames the Conservatives for economic mismanagement increasing inflation.
He reiterates the cast-iron guarantee of dualling the A9.
Yousaf returns to the thorny topic of Boris Johnson who he accuses of betraying the people of the UK "having parties in No.10".
The first minister reminds the chamber Ross backed Johnson "to the hilt".
FM insists new team is looking at A9 timetable
BBCCopyright: BBC
Yousaf reiterates that the new transport team is looking at the timetable of the A9 dualling.
The FM says he takes the criticisms from CECA very seriously and insists their comments will be reflected on.
"We have a proud track record of investing in infrastructure projects here in Scotland," he says.
Ross presses Yousaf on withdrawn A9 question
Ross points out the question on the A9 timetable was lodged on Monday - hours before the government's new transport team was announced - but it was then withdrawn.
He quotes the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland who said Transport Scotland were "the worst client to work for in the UK".
The Scottish Tory leader asks if the first minister has full confidence in Transport Scotland and again asks why the question was withdrawn.
FM highlights new transport team put in place
The first minister explains the question was withdrawn as a new government transport team has been in place.
The transport brief in the Scottish government has been restored to cabinet level.
Yousaf has added it to the portfolio of Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary Màiri McAllan, with experienced MSP Fiona Hyslop to return to government in a junior ministerial role.
The first minister then goes on to make his first reference to Boris Johnson saying: "Today of all days, the Conservatives should understand the value of accurate statements made to this Parliament."
Why was A9 timetable announcement withdrawn, asks Ross
Douglas Ross says that last year, deaths on the A9 were at a 20-year high and he says only a mile a year has been dualled.
The Scottish Tory leader reminds the first minister that he had pledged to dual the A9 as the first thing he did when he took office.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Campaigner Laura Hansler told BBC Scotland of communities' A9 safety fears back in DecemberImage caption: Campaigner Laura Hansler told BBC Scotland of communities' A9 safety fears back in December
He quotes campaigner Laura Hansler, who lives in Kincraig, near Aviemore, who asked at Holyrood "where are these promises?"
Ross asks why an announcement on the A9 procurement timetable - which was set to be heard in Parliament earlier this week - was withdrawn.
FM highlights £430m of investment into the A9
Humza Yousaf begins by saying his thoughts are with every family that has seen a tragic loss of life on the A9.
The first minister insists there has been action since 2007, with £430m of investment in the road.
There are dualled sections already, he adds, saying the commitment to completely dualling the A9 is absolute.
Yousaf tells the chamber work is ongoing to update the new timescale for completion and this will be revealed after the summer recess.
Background: 'Years of warning' over A9 dualling timescale
BBCCopyright: BBC
Civil engineers said they knew for years a target to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025 would not be met.
The Scottish government committed to the date in 2011, when the project was predicted to cost £3bn.
In February this year, the then transport minister Jenny Gilruth said the target was "unachievable".
She said the project had been hit by delays caused by the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
Douglas Ross raises the issue of the A9, "one of the most dangerous roads in the country".
The Scottish Conservative leader points out that the SNP promised to dual the A9 between Inverness and Perth in their 2007 manifesto 16 years ago.
He says campaigners were in parliament yesterday.
Ross holds up the Inverness Courier which he says highlighted the A9 dualling failure with a tombstone on its front cover earlier this year.
He quotes a later edition of the paper: "The Scottish government has no update on its dualling project, leaving us all to ask, how many more people have to die?"
FMQs gets under way...
Humza Yousaf sits poised and ready for the political fray and Douglas Ross gets to his feet to begin this week's first minister's questions.
It’s been a week of massive political stories, but of the
sort which leaders might end up tiptoeing around at first minister’s questions.
Douglas Ross would no doubt love a chance to bring up Nicola
Sturgeon’s arrest (and subsequent release without charge) by police
investigating the SNP’s finances.
However he knows that Humza Yousaf would love a chance to
bring up the spectacular downfall of Boris Johnson, no longer even an MP let
alone prime minister.
And on both counts, the presiding officer will be watching
with an eagle eye for any submissions which don’t relate specifically to the
business of the Scottish government.
So it may well fall to some enterprising backbenchers to try
to sneak in a dig about the fortunes of former party leaders, while the current
ones focus on the bread and butter issues of the day.
And there is no shortage of those, from the threat of junior
doctors going on strike to the dualling of the A9.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
-
Douglas Ross asked how many people had to die before the A9 is dualled
-
The first minister hit back, pointing to £430m of investment in the road since 2007
-
The two clashed over the technical point of why a Government Initiated Question on the A9 was withdrawn
-
The Scottish Tory leader said the withdrawal was unprecedented but the FM insisted it was due to the appointment of a new transport ministerial team
-
Anas Sarwar raised the Scottish government’s new 10-year strategy for cancer, saying treatment standards had not been met for a decade
-
The Scottish Labour leader highlighted the case of a 76-year-old man from Lewis who had been told no appropriate
oncologist was available to supervise his treatment
-
Humza Yousaf defended the
government’s record, saying the health service was still dealing with backlogs
from the pandemic, and that the latest figures reflected a positive trajectory
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Analysis
BBCCopyright: BBC 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images - Read more
- Cancer waiting times worst on record
- Scottish cancer cases rise by 15% in a year
- Charity sees more people with late cancer diagnoses
Analysis
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Campaigner Laura Hansler told BBC Scotland of communities' A9 safety fears back in DecemberImage caption: Campaigner Laura Hansler told BBC Scotland of communities' A9 safety fears back in December 
BBCCopyright: BBC - Read more:
- Why is there a row over Scotland's longest road?
- Delayed dualling of A9 is costing lives, says MSP
- A9 work will not be completed by 2025 target
BBCCopyright: BBC Analysis
Latest PostFMQs: The headlines
Now, if you've just joined us or need a quick recap, here are the main headlines from today's FMQs:
That concludes our coverage of this week's FMQs. The editor was Paul McLaren and the writers were Bryn Palmer, Craig Hutchison, Morven Mckinnon and Auryn Cox.
Thank you for joining us.
Scottish SPCA facing 'financial crisis'
Christine Grahame higlights reports that Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity, the Scottish SPCA, is in financial crisis.
The FM replies the Scottish government takes animal welfare verys seriously, unlike the "callous approach" of the Tory government.
Yousaf says the Scottish SPCA are on the frontline of the cost of living crisis and he adds he's asked officials to liaise with the charity over support.
SNP backbencher Grahame focuses on companion animals and the heartbreak when people can no longer afford to keep them.
She explains it costs £56,000 per day to run the Scottish SPCA, to which Yousaf replies nobobdy should have to give up a loved pet.
The FM praises the Scottish SPCA Pet Aid Scheme.
Warnings over new-build heating systems raised
Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle asks about concerns that the Scottish government’s proposals to ban gas and other direct emission heating systems in new-build homes from next year could have a serious adverse impact on the housing sector.
The climate friendly system will apply to all new buildings from next April, the FM says, and is just one part of the programme to meet climate change targets.
Whittle says the plans are "shaping up to be another Scottish Green-led mess", with warnings that fewer houses will be built, prices will rise and there will be a lack of qualified engineers to install the pledged one million heat pumps by 2030.
The FM responds that the most important thing is having a sustainable planet to hand on to future generations, but insists the Tories have opposed every measure on meeting climate targets.
Tory MSP highlights closure of 40 schools in recent years
Tory MSP Stephen Kerr says last weekend the Herald newspaper revealed 40 mainly rural schools had been closed or moth-balled in recent years.
Kerr accuses the SNP government of having a "blatant disregard" for rural areas, adding families are being left "high and dry".
He says there are 15 more schools at risk of closure, including Blackness School, and asks the FM to send a strong message of support to schools.
The first minister does not agree with Stephen Kerr's characterisation and he points out these are decisions for local authorities to take.
Yousaf says the SNP brought in further protetctions for rural schools, insisting alternatives to closure must be looked at and educational benefits considered.
There are a range of actions being undertaken to address depopulation, which has been made worse by a "hard Brexit", the FM says.
A noticeable change in tone between Sarwar and Yousaf
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Anas Sarwar led as he does most weeks on health issues, specifically cancer services.
The Labour leader continues to call for change, leaning both on the fact Humza Yousaf was formerly the health secretary, but also the fact the SNP has been in government since 2007.
This might underline the party’s longevity and election-winning record – but Mr Sarwar hopes that the current state of services will mean that record becomes a drag on the SNP’s chances next time out.
Mr Yousaf has faced dozens of these kinds of questions even just since taking over as first minister, and as ever cited the disruption of the Covid pandemic in his responses.
But for all the familiarity, this felt less personal than the usually barbed exchanges between the two leaders.
This was a serious topic which may have been elevated somewhat above the normally chippy atmosphere of the SNP-Labour rivalry.
'People cannot afford to wait - the crisis is now' - Sarwar
Sarwar welcomes the FM’s response but asks him to look at the case urgently, saying it shouldn’t take bringing individual cases to parliament for people to get life-saving surgery.
The new strategy published today says the workforce review won’t conclude until 2026, he points out, but “people cannot afford to wait - the crisis is now”, he adds.
Yousaf says that before the pandemic the government was consistently meeting the 31-day treatment standard and latest figures showed they were in 94.1% of cases, with the median waiting time five days.
“I don’t believe people should have to wait longer,” the FM says, adding that 35% more people are being treated on the 62-day pathway than 10 years ago.
Cancer waits mean 'life and death for people across Scotland'
Sarwar highlights the case of a 76-year-old man, Malcolm Graham, from Lewis, who had a tumour removed last year but last month was told the cancer had returned in his liver and lungs.
The Scottish Labour leader quotes from a letter Mr Graham received this week saying the health board “currently don’t have an appropriate oncologist” to supervise his treatment and that “sadly this means he is likely to experience some delay and disruption”.
“This is life and death for people across the country,” says Sarwar and asks why there is no oncologist available in Scotland?
Yousaf says he is not aware of the details but would be happy to receive them. The FM says there is a global shortage of oncologists but the number in Scotland has seen almost a 100% increase since 2007.
He adds the Scottish government has also increased the number of consultant radiologists in Scotland at a higher rate than other parts of the UK, but they know "there is still work to do".
Background: New 10-year plan aims to cut late-stage cancer diagnosis
The Scottish government has published its new cancer strategy which aims to significantly cut the number of people diagnosed at a later stage.
The10-year plan also intends to reduce the health inequalities associated with the disease.
About 42% of cancers are currently diagnosed at the later stages.
However, the government's ambition is to reduce the number of people diagnosed at stages three and four to 24% by 2033.
This would mean about 5,000 fewer people diagnosed with later stage disease in 10 years' time.
When will cancer treatment standard be met, asks Sarwar
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar asks the FM about the Scottish government’s new 10-year strategy for dealing with cancer.
He says the 62-day treatment standard has not been met for a decade and the new action plan doesn’t mention it. When will it be met, he asks.
Humza Yousaf says there are challenges because of the shock of the pandemic and the new strategy is an important plan which has been welcomed by stakeholders.
Pausing cancer screenings for a number of months during the pandemic was “arguably the most difficult decision the government had to take”.
They are working through the backlog and although they are not meeting the 62-day target, the FM says they are “close” to meeting the 31-day target and are seeing more people through both the 31- and 62-day pathways, he adds.
Cancer and recovery waiting times are of “the highest priority”, Yousaf says.
Ross and Yousaf at opposite ends of the road
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Douglas Ross hung his questions on a rather technical issue – a Government Initiated Question which would have prompted an update on the A9 project being pulled at Holyrood.
But he had a much broader point about road safety and the big questions hanging over the dualling scheme.
Mr Ross lives at the opposite end of the A9 from Humza Yousaf, and hopes to paint the first minister as leading a party with its head stuck in the central belt.
But Mr Yousaf is a former transport minister, and has this week elevated the portfolio to a full cabinet job. That was in response to concerns about ferry projects, but roads will play into it too.
He also reeled off a list of big road projects delivered across the country, from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to the Queensferry Crossing.
That drew applause from his SNP colleagues, but may go down rather less well with his Green partners in government who are much less keen on laying new tarmac.
'Cast-iron guarantee' on dualling
The Scottish Tory leader insistst Yousaf must have known a new transport minister was to be put in place, when the question on the A9 was first tabled.
He asks for all relevant correspondence pertaining to the issue of the withdrawn government question to be published.
He again asks: "How many more people have to die before this road is fully dualled?"
Yousaf says it will not take until 2050 to dual the A9 and there will be an update to parliament once the work is done over the summer.
The FM blames the Conservatives for economic mismanagement increasing inflation.
He reiterates the cast-iron guarantee of dualling the A9.
Yousaf returns to the thorny topic of Boris Johnson who he accuses of betraying the people of the UK "having parties in No.10".
The first minister reminds the chamber Ross backed Johnson "to the hilt".
FM insists new team is looking at A9 timetable
Yousaf reiterates that the new transport team is looking at the timetable of the A9 dualling.
The FM says he takes the criticisms from CECA very seriously and insists their comments will be reflected on.
"We have a proud track record of investing in infrastructure projects here in Scotland," he says.
Ross presses Yousaf on withdrawn A9 question
Ross points out the question on the A9 timetable was lodged on Monday - hours before the government's new transport team was announced - but it was then withdrawn.
He quotes the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland who said Transport Scotland were "the worst client to work for in the UK".
The Scottish Tory leader asks if the first minister has full confidence in Transport Scotland and again asks why the question was withdrawn.
FM highlights new transport team put in place
The first minister explains the question was withdrawn as a new government transport team has been in place.
The transport brief in the Scottish government has been restored to cabinet level.
Yousaf has added it to the portfolio of Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary Màiri McAllan, with experienced MSP Fiona Hyslop to return to government in a junior ministerial role.
The first minister then goes on to make his first reference to Boris Johnson saying: "Today of all days, the Conservatives should understand the value of accurate statements made to this Parliament."
Why was A9 timetable announcement withdrawn, asks Ross
Douglas Ross says that last year, deaths on the A9 were at a 20-year high and he says only a mile a year has been dualled.
The Scottish Tory leader reminds the first minister that he had pledged to dual the A9 as the first thing he did when he took office.
He quotes campaigner Laura Hansler, who lives in Kincraig, near Aviemore, who asked at Holyrood "where are these promises?"
Ross asks why an announcement on the A9 procurement timetable - which was set to be heard in Parliament earlier this week - was withdrawn.
FM highlights £430m of investment into the A9
Humza Yousaf begins by saying his thoughts are with every family that has seen a tragic loss of life on the A9.
The first minister insists there has been action since 2007, with £430m of investment in the road.
There are dualled sections already, he adds, saying the commitment to completely dualling the A9 is absolute.
Yousaf tells the chamber work is ongoing to update the new timescale for completion and this will be revealed after the summer recess.
Background: 'Years of warning' over A9 dualling timescale
Civil engineers said they knew for years a target to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025 would not be met.
The Scottish government committed to the date in 2011, when the project was predicted to cost £3bn.
In February this year, the then transport minister Jenny Gilruth said the target was "unachievable".
She said the project had been hit by delays caused by the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
'How many more people have to die?' - Ross
Douglas Ross raises the issue of the A9, "one of the most dangerous roads in the country".
The Scottish Conservative leader points out that the SNP promised to dual the A9 between Inverness and Perth in their 2007 manifesto 16 years ago.
He says campaigners were in parliament yesterday.
Ross holds up the Inverness Courier which he says highlighted the A9 dualling failure with a tombstone on its front cover earlier this year.
He quotes a later edition of the paper: "The Scottish government has no update on its dualling project, leaving us all to ask, how many more people have to die?"
FMQs gets under way...
Humza Yousaf sits poised and ready for the political fray and Douglas Ross gets to his feet to begin this week's first minister's questions.
What can we expect from this week's FMQs?
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
It’s been a week of massive political stories, but of the sort which leaders might end up tiptoeing around at first minister’s questions.
Douglas Ross would no doubt love a chance to bring up Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest (and subsequent release without charge) by police investigating the SNP’s finances.
However he knows that Humza Yousaf would love a chance to bring up the spectacular downfall of Boris Johnson, no longer even an MP let alone prime minister.
And on both counts, the presiding officer will be watching with an eagle eye for any submissions which don’t relate specifically to the business of the Scottish government.
So it may well fall to some enterprising backbenchers to try to sneak in a dig about the fortunes of former party leaders, while the current ones focus on the bread and butter issues of the day.
And there is no shortage of those, from the threat of junior doctors going on strike to the dualling of the A9.