If you are just joining us here are the main points from today's statement by the deputy first minister:

• Shona Robison confirmed that the Scottish government will hand over 14,000 messages to the UK Covid inquiry by 6 November.
• Speaking outside the chamber later, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told reporters that she handled all WhatsApp messages "in line with policies".
• Ms Sturgeon said she did not "manage the Covid response by WhatsApp", that she was not in WhatsApp groups and adds: "I've got nothing to hide"

• Meanwhile, Robison apologised to the families of the bereaved where there has been any lack of clarity about the information to be provided to the inquiries.
• She also confirmed more than 19,000 documents have already been provided to the UK inquiry and says this figure continues to grow.
• Robison told the chamber WhatsApp is not used for decision making by the Scottish government.
• The deputy first minister said it will be for individuals to "explain any actions they have taken in relation to records retention".
• Robison confirmed Humza Yousaf will hand over his unredacted WhatsApp messages to the UK inquiry in "the coming days".
• The first minister had earlier denied deleting WhatsApp messages relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Robison said the Scottish government maintained a "detailed record and evidence" of key decisions taken during the Covid crisis.
• She vowed it will be "open and accountable" about its performance.
• Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said it should be the first minister delivering the statement and adds: "The stench of secrecy from this government is overpowering."
• Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie claimed that bereaved families promised transparency by the Scottish government have been "treated with disrespect".

Today's live page was edited by Mary McCool and the writers were Craig Hutchison and Paul O'Hare.

Questioned by reporters outside the Holyrood chamber, Nicola Sturgeon says she did not manage the Covid-19 pandemic on WhatsApp.

She says she was not a member of any WhatsApp groups and that she managed the pandemic response from her office.

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent

There was one question Nicola Sturgeon was asked multiple times that she would not answer - did you delete any Whatsapp messages?

The former first minister told reporters that she has to respect the ongoing inquiry processes, and therefore she can’t get into these specifics.

That’s slightly undermined by the fact that her successor, Humza Yousaf, has confirmed that he’s kept all of his from the time of the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon stressed multiple times that she feels all of her actions were in line with government policies.

This was the first time Nicola Sturgeon faced the press since reports about her messages. But this won’t be the last time she’s quizzed on this issue.

Returning to Nicola Sturgeon's interview at the Scottish Parliament, she refused to answer direct questions regarding whether or not she had deleted any messages.

She said that she was limited in what she could say due to the ongoing inquiries.

Inquiry requests and responses are confidential, she said, and she would not go into detail.

Shona Robison earlier confirmed that the Scottish government will hand over 14,000 messages to the UK Covid Inquiry.

She said the messages would be "shared in full and unredacted" by 6 November.

Speaking outside the chamber, Nicola Sturgeon tells reporters that of all the WhatsApp messages she had she handled with "in line with policies".

She says she will be setting out to the UK Covid inquiry how she operated during the pandemic, what information she holds, doesn't hold "and the reasons for that".

Sturgeon adds that she takes her obligations seriously.

"I did not manage the Covid response by WhatsApp," she says, adding that she was not a member of WhatsApp groups and managed the pandemic response from her office in St Andrew's House.

"I've got nothing to hide," she adds.

Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie says evidence being taken at the UK Covid inquiry today "demonstrates why transparency in government is so important."

Baillie goes on to claim that bereaved families promised transparency by the Scottish government have been "treated with disrespect".

And she adds messages from key decision-makers "have been destroyed on an industrial scale".

Robison acknowledges many families have been "profoundly affected" and says thousands of documents have already been provided to the UK inquiry.

She repeats that this will be followed by the handover of more than 14,000 WhatsApp messages by 6 November.

Robison explains 19,000 documents have already been given to the UK Covid Inquiry.

The first tranche of queries from the inquiry related to decision making and it was in June when the inquiry asked for group WhatsApp messages, she says.

"It has only been for just over a month" that the inquiry was asking for the WhatsApp messages, she says.

Robison highlights the confidential nature of what the inquiry is asking for.

She knows the first minister will hand over his WhatsApp messages because he has publicaly stated he will.

She says in terms of her use of WhatsApp any decision is recorded on the system, "other messages like do I want a coffee" would not be kept as it would not comply with the data management policy.

Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says it should be the first minister delivering this statement this afternoon.

The Scottish Tory leader says: "The stench of secrecy from this government is overpowering."

He says it was revealed at the weekend that both Nicola Sturgeon and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch deleted WhatsApp messages.

Ross asks if the 14,000 messages referenced by the deputy first minister includes messages from Sturgeon or Leitch and if not how does the DM "defend this cover up".

He points out that if any messages deleted after the 'do not destroy' notice was issued that would be breaking the law.

Ross says he has seen correspondence that disappearing messages was being used by Robison and he asks if that is still the case.

Ms Robison closes by expressing her gratitude to those working on the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries.

She adds: "We all stand to benefit from the work that they take forward on our behalf."

The deputy first minster ends by again pledging that the Scottish government will be "open and accountable" about its performance.

Image source, PA Media

The deputy first minister says that there "is not and has not ever been a requirement" for any official or minister to auto delete messages "without ensuring relevant information from them is captured and saved appropriately first".

Ms Robison says the Scottish government has fully complied with its obligations under the Public Records Scotland Act (2011).

She adds its records management policy makes clear what must be recorded.

The deputy first minister adds it is not "practical, cost effective or necessary" for any organisation to retain "every single exchange that everyone working within that organisation creates".

Image source, PA Media

The deputy first minister goes on to offer some "insight and reassurance" regarding the handling of records during the Covid pandemic including, but not limited to, informal communications.

She adds the Scottish government has clear record management policy, including transcribing and storing "salient information from informal communications".

Robison says this included evidence of decision-making to a centralised record system.

And she adds the government has been consistent in its duty to "create and retain" records during the period specified by the UK inquiry.

Image source, PA Media

Ms Robison confirms the first minister will hand over his unredacted WhatsApp messages to the UK inquiry in "the coming days".

Humza Yousaf earlier denied deleting WhatsApp messages relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The deputy first minister tells MSPs ministers will continue to fully cooperate with both inquiries and share "any additional messages should more become available or further material be requested".

She adds the first minister has asked the permanent secretary to ensure that "all steps are being taken" to meet the inquiry's requests.

And Ms Robison says: "It will be for individuals to explain any actions they have taken in relation to records retention."

Robison tells the chamber WhatsApp is not used for decision making by the Scottish government.

She says the UK inquiry asked in June for summaries of all WhatsApp messages and this was followed in September with a request for the messages themselves.

She says a number of them were of a personal nature - including photos of children and personal medical records - and the Scottish government wrote on 5 October asking for a section 21 notice to provide a legal basis for the requests.

The Scottish government received the section 21 notice yesterday.

"Work is well under way to fully comply in accordance with the timetable set by the UK inquiry," she says.

"The Scottish government has and will work tirelessly to provide the UK inquiry with the materials it has requested," continues the deputy first minister.

Robison adds: "In total more than 19,000 documents have already been provided to the UK inquiry and this figure continues to grow."

Robison explains she is making this statement to address issues raised by the UK Covid inquiry on 26 October.

The deputy first minister says there will not be a running commentary on either inquiry.

She apologises to the families of the bereaved where there has been any lack of clarity about the information to be provided to the inquiries.

The deputy first minister says Humza Yousaf has offered a meeting to the Scottish Covid Bereaved.

Shona Robison confirms that the Scottish government will now hand over 14,000 messages to the UK Covid inquiry by 6 November.

She says the nature of messages are "routine co-ordination of work and meetings by officials".

Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

The deputy first minister begins by saying "we remember all those who lost their lives" during the Covid pandemic.

Shona Robison hopes her government's co-operation with both Covid inquiries may provide answers and some relief.