Our live coverage of FMQs is drawing to a close. If you've just joined us, here are the headlines:

• Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross challenges the first minister on whether government WhatsApp messages have been handed to the Covid inquiries
• Humza Yousaf insists his government is complying with both the Scottish and UK Covid inquiries fully
• Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, asks why the FM does not see that cuts to the fire service are putting lives at risk
• Yousaf hits back, arguing the government has still increased funding to the fire service
• A huge rally of disgruntled firefighters was held outside Holyrood before FMQs
• Why are people paying more for their dentistry under the SNP, asks Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton
• The FM states dental charges for those under 26 have been removed
• Tory MSP Russell Findlay raises the case of Claire Inglis and calls for an inquiry into the bailing of her murderer Christopher McGowan
• The mother and father of Claire Inglis were in the gallery for FMQs
• The FM says his thoughts are with them but decisions about bail and remand are for the independent judiciary
• He pledges to convey the family's concerns to the lord president and lord advocate

That's all from us today. Paul McLaren was the editor this week. Craig Hutchison and Auryn Cox were the writers.

Image source, Getty Images

On Sunday, Jackie Baillie criticised the government after data from Public Health Scotland showed more than 1,500 patients are waiting three years or more for hospital treatments.

The data also revealed that 1,587 patients had been waiting at least 156 weeks for either an inpatient or day care procedure.

And that a total of 6,831 Scots have been on the list for two years, which is more than 25 times higher than the equivalent number in England.

“These waits spiralled out of control when Humza Yousaf was health secretary so he must address them as first minister," Jackie Baillie said.

Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie asks what steps are being taken to eradicate long waiting times for NHS treatment after data from Public Health Scotland showed over 1,500 patients have been waiting more than three years.

Humza Yousaf says excessively long waits are "of course unacceptable" and says the Scottish government is working hard to drive down the longest waits.

"There's undoubtedly more to do which is why over the next three years we will provide an extra £100m to accelerate treatment for patients and reduce inpatient and day case waiting lists by an estimated 100,000 patients," he says.

Jackie Baillie replies that the Scottish government has missed its promised targets to reduce waiting lists.

The first minister says the current situation has been caused by the global pandemic but says significant reductions have been made.

Image source, PA Media

With Claire Inglis' parents watching from the public gallery, the first minister says: "First and foremost my thoughts are very much with Ian and Fiona, Claire's parents.

"I cannot imagine the trauma and the grief they are going through."

Humza Yousaf adds: "Decisions about bail and remand are for the independent judiciary, the independent courts, to determine.

They are not for any first minster to interfere with or intervene in, with he says.

The FM does not agree with Russell Findlay's characterisation and criticism of the Bail and Release Act.

He says it states the court must consider the victim's safety when applying the new bail test.

Yousaf says he will convey the family's concerns to the lord president and the lord advocate.

The Inglis family want answerspublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 26 October 2023

12:55 BST 26 October 2023

Sarah McMullan
BBC Scotland news

Fiona and Ian Inglis' daughter Claire was brutally murdered by her boyfriend of only eight weeks in November 2021.

Yesterday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Christopher McGowan was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison for her murder.

While sentencing, Judge Michael O’Grady said “to describe what you did as sadistic falls woefully short of the mark, it was beyond sadistic.”

I’ve been following this case for the past two years and have spoken with the Inglis family at length and now that they have shared their story – they have questions as to how this happened.

They wanted people to know what happened to their daughter.

They also wanted people to know that she was much more than what happened to her.

And now that they have shared their story - they want answers as to how this happened.

Christopher McGowan had 40 previous convictions and was on five bail orders when he murdered Claire. He’d been bailed to her address after his defence argued he was now in a “positive relationship”. He killed her at that property just weeks later.

Fiona and Ian Inglis feel this should never have been allowed to happen as it put Claire and her young son at risk. They say better safeguarding is needed in the legal system.

Image source, INGLIS FAMILY

Christopher McGowan and Claire Inglis had been together eight weeks when he was released on bail to stay at the Stirling flat she shared with her young son.

He went on to batter and strangle the 28-year-old, before burning her with a lighter and pushing a wet wipe down her throat.

Ms Inglis sustained 76 separate injuries on her head and body during the attack.

Judge Michael O'Grady said McGowan's actions were "beyond sadistic" as he sentence him to life in prison with a minimum term of 23 years.

He said Ms Inglis had suffered "nothing short of torture" at McGowan's hands.

Read more here.

Russell Findlay highlights the case of Claire Inglis, who was murdered by her new boyfriend Christopher McGowan after he was bailed from prison to her home.

The Tory MSP says: "Claire Inglis was tortured and murdered in her own home leaving behind her young son.

"Fiona and Ian Inglis have found the strength to be here today 24 hours after their daughter's killer was jailed.

"They're here for answers.

"Why was a violent criminal with dozens of convictions granted bail, not just once or twice, but five times."

He calls for an independent and robust inquiry.

Image source, Getty Images

The charity and campaign group, Pregnant Then Screwed, says two-thirds of parents in Scotland are leaving their jobs or reducing their hours due to the cost and availability of childcare.

It surveyed over 1,000 parents across the country and found 65% are leaving the workforce or cutting back their hours.

It also found that 43% of Scottish parents said they could not afford to have any more children due to childcare costs.

The charity published its findings on its website, external and said families should be put first as it called for better investment in the childcare sector.

Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher asks about reports of concerns that parents are having to give up their jobs due to childcare costs.

Humza Yousaf argues the current childcare offer from the Scottish government is the most generous in the UK.

He says 88% with a three to five-year-old are satisfied they can access childcare in a way that meets their specific needs.

The FM says he has outlined plans to expand the childcare offer to help 13,000 more children and their families to access it over the time of this parliament.

Gallacher asks how the FM to can reassure women "that they won't end up pregnant then screwed by this government".

The FM reiterates the expansion highlighted in the programme for government.

Image source, TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

Earlier this month a new campaign was launched to tackle the stigma that people with HIV face.

An advert from The Terrence Higgins Trust has been airing on TV which says the stigma is now more harmful than the virus itself.

This is because HIV can now be suppressed to undetectable levels in the blood by using a daily pill, protecting the immune system of the infected person and preventing it being passed on to partners.

The Scottish government, which helped fund the campaign, said reducing stigma would encourage more people to come forward for treatment as it aims to eliminate new HIV transmissions in the country by 2030.

• Read more
• 'Patients used to come here to die, now they come to live'

The SNP's Clare Haughey asks what action the Scottish government is taking to eliminate new transmissions of HIV - in light of the launch of Scotland’s new HIV anti-stigma campaign in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust.

The first minister says the government is delighted to have partnered with the charity on the important anti-stigma campaign.

"We remain absolutely committed to eliminating HIV transmissions in Scotland by 2030," he says.

"Work is still very much required to challenge perceptions while also improving access to testing, to preventative treatment and also to support people living with HIV."

He adds that these issues will be prioritised in the government's HIV transmission elimination delivery plan.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says vast numbers of people are being forced to call emergency dental helplines because they can't find an NHS dentist.

The Scottish Lib Dem says an investigation he is publishing today shows that happened almost 16,000 times last year in Fife alone.

He says people are desperate across Scotland with some even resorting to DIY dentistry.

Cole-Hamilton asks: "Why are people paying more for less under the SNP?"

The first minister points out the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Scotland's dental services.

He says his government has removed dental charges for those under 26.

Yousaf says there are more dentists per capita in Scotland than there are in England.

The Scottish Labour leader says the fire service is suffering from a decade of neglect from the Scottish government and fire stations across the country have been impacted.

He quotes the SNP which said when the the single fire service was created that it would not result it cuts.

"Was that SNP spin, or SNP incompetence," he asks.

The first minister replies that he will stick to the facts.

"We continue to invest in our fire service and I want to thank and pay tribute to the FBU and to our firefighters on the ground," he says.

"And I'll continue to give them a promise that so long as we are in government we'll continue to insure that they get the investment they need to keep our public safe."

Sarwar's burning issuepublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 26 October 2023

12:30 BST 26 October 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

A huge rally of disgruntled firefighters was held outside the parliament before FMQs, giving Anas Sarwar a burning issue to raise.

This has been a big story this week, so it was one that Humza Yousaf was relatively prepared for, with plenty of stats to reel off from his binder.

It also tapped into two wider themes that will dominate the parliament in the coming weeks and months.

One is finances – the fire service is not the only one which is feeling the squeeze, and the government faces some very tough choices in what it prioritises in the budget in December.

The other theme is the rather testy relationship between the Labour and SNP leaders, with each accusing the other of “spin”.

Labour may be the third party at Holyrood but they are gearing up for a head-to-head fight with the SNP at the next general election – and Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar rarely hesitate to take a shot at each other ahead of that.

Sarwar replies that the first minister is “burying his head in the sand” and says he is not listening to the concerns from frontline firefighters and the chief fire officer about how to keep people safe.

Yousaf says there are reforms being made to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

"I trust the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to make those changes and do so in a way that keeps people safe," he says.

"I'm not sure why Anas Sarwar doesn't."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is up next and he asks the first minister about funding cuts to the fire service after two major fires in the past week - one in Lochgelly and one in East Kilbride.

"First minister, why can't you see cuts are putting lives at risk?" he asks.

Humza Yousaf starts by paying tribute to the firefighters working in Scotland, but he says he does not agree with the point being made about cuts.

He says despite the UK government's policy of austerity, the Scottish government still increased funding to the fire service.

The FM points out there are more firefighters per head in Scotland compared to England and Wales.

And that over the last 10 years the number of recorded fires has dropped by 14% in Scotland.

An uncomfortable exchange, with the Tory leader one step aheadpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 26 October 2023

12:21 BST 26 October 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Douglas Ross opted for a very fresh line of questioning, raising complaints from this morning about the Scottish government’s willingness to hand over material to the UK Covid inquiry.

Latching onto some breaking news meant Humza Yousaf had effectively no time to prepare for these questions.

It made for an uncomfortable exchange, with the Tory leader essentially one step ahead throughout, able to brandish a copy of an email Mr Yousaf referred to which he obviously suspected might be cited.

He may not have had any pre-scripted lines, but what the first minister does have is a first-hand recollection of how the government worked during the pandemic, having taken over as health secretary during that period.

And both leaders were acutely aware that this is not just a parliamentary knockabout between politicians, with inquiry officials and indeed bereaved families following keenly.

The first minister says any concerns raised by bereaved families will be "fully investigated".

Ross points out the counsel to the inquiry has said they have not received the information they asked for.

He says refusing to hand over the information "would not only be an insult to grieving families, it would not only be a shocking display of secrecy, it would potentially break the law."

Yousaf insists it is not his government that has broken the law over Covid.

The FM says his own statement to the inquiry was over 100 pages long and he is seeking assurances that "do not destroy" notices have been applied.

Ross argues that the government, including Humza Yousaf himself, does use WhatsApp routinely to discuss business.

The Scottish Tory leader says "there is no excuse for not releasing" the messages.

"That is a complete mischaracterisation," replies Yousaf.

"I did not inadvertently mislead the chamber" he says, responding to an argument from Douglas Ross.

He reiterates his point that decisions were not routinely made over WhatsApp.

The Scottish Tory leader says Jamie Dawson KC has said the Scottish government has provided no WhatsApp messages.

Ross says: "Where are the messages, where have they gone and has the Scottish government deleted any messages?"

Humza Yousaf says ministers did have discussions on WhatsApp but did not make Scottish government decisions over WhatsApp.

"We must comply with the inquiries fully," says the first minister.

All the information has been handed over, he insists.