During this week's FMQs news broke that former Chancellor and leader of the Better Together campaign Alistair Darling had died.

Here's a reminder of the main points in the chamber:

• Yet again the session was dominated by calls for Michael Matheson to quit from Douglas Ross
• The deputy first minister defended the health secretary and insisted there were more pressing issues the Scottish Tory leader should be focused on
• Ross did not falter though and he called on Matheson to quit "for good of our NHS"
• Anas Sarwar told the chamber 24,567 people on waiting lists died in Scotland last year
• Shona Robison agreed "long waits are regrettable" and stressed £1bn was being spent on the NHS recovery plan

That's all from the live page team today. Mary McCool was the editor and Craig Hutchison and Auryn Cox were the writers.

We've been reporting on the death of former Chancellor Alistair Darling - Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says he lived a life devoted to public service.

"He will be remembered as the chancellor whose calm expertise and honesty helped to guide Britain through the tumult of the global financial crisis," he said.

Starmer added that Mr Darling was a "lifelong advocate for Scotland and the Scottish people" and took pride in representing his constituents in Edinburgh.

"I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have benefited from Alistair's counsel and friendship. He was always at hand to provide advice built on his decades of experience - always with his trademark wry, good humour," he says.

A statement issued on behalf of his family called Lord Darling a "much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna".

Image source, Scottish Parliament

SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart raises the anniversary of the Clutha helicopter crash yesterday and says: "The painful memory of that disaster still runs deep among my local communities."

She pays tributes to the emergency services, the families and the wider community who pulled together.

The deputy first minister adds her thoughts continue to go out to all those impacted by the events of 29 November 2013.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Scottish Labour MSP, Pam Duncan-Glancy, asks what the Scottish government’s response is to reports that some young people are leaving school struggling to read.

Shona Robinson says pass rates this year for English National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher are the same as or higher than pass rates before the Covid-19 pandemic.

She adds that any young person leaving school struggling to read is unacceptable but says the evidence shows that young people in Scotland continue to achieve well in literacy.

Ms Duncan-Glancy responds saying she is really concerned by the deputy first minister's response.

"One in three children in Scotland are struggling to read, the EIS say that early years teachers are reporting an increase in the number of children presenting in primary one with delayed development," she says.

She asks if the deputy first minister accepts that it is a growing problem and what the Scottish government intends to do about it.

Ms Robinson responds that there has obviously been an impact on children's speech and says it is important that supports are in place to help those young people catch up.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks when the Scottish government will publish the results of the A96 corridor review.

The deputy first minister replies the government remains committed to improvements to the A96, although this is made more difficult due to the challenges faced in the capital budget.

She expects Transport Scotland's advice on the consulation before the end of the year.

Kerr argues the review should have been published over a year ago and he accuses the government of prevarication and excuses.

Robison says the Tory MSP is being insulting to the 11,000 people who contributed to the consultation and she reiterates the capital budget has been cut by 10%.

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing asks: "By what year will the construction of the Nairn bypass be completed?"

The deputy first minister replies her government is fully committed to making improvements to the A96, though Ewing is seen shaking his head at the response.

Image source, Getty Images

Alistair Darling, the Labour chancellor who steered the UK through the 2008 financial crisis, has died aged 70, a spokesperson on behalf of his family said.

Following Labour's landslide 1997 election win, Lord Darling served in cabinet for 13 years under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Mr Darling was also the leader of the Better Together campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Anas Sarwar says the Scottish government's Covid recovery plan is not working.

"People are dying and waiting lists are going up," he adds.

He asks the deputy first minister if she will accept that NHS patients and staff can not afford another winter with a "failing SNP health secretary" and a "failing SNP government".

Shona Robinson again reiterates that other health services are struggling and points out the NHS in Labour-run Wales as an example.

She says the Scottish government is committed to investing in a publicly-owned health service and says this is unlike the Labour shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, who she says wants to open the door to privatisation.

Sarwar accuses the deputy first minister of having "her head in the sand" and says her answer was "pathetic".

He says a freedom of information request which his party put in to health boards revealed that 24,567 people in Scotland died on NHS waiting lists last year.

"When lives are being lost surely we need a health secretary and a government focused on doing their jobs, not saving their jobs," he says.

Shona Robinson replies that her government is focused on the NHS and says she deeply regrets the fact that anyone died while on an NHS waiting list.

But she points out that other health services are also struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and rising costs.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is up next and asks the deputy first minister about NHS waiting times.

He says 828,398 Scots are now on an NHS waiting list and adds "tragically many will never receive treatment".

"How many people died last year on NHS waiting lists?" he asks.

Shona Robinson says she and her government take these matters seriously and adds that "long waits are regrettable".

She points out that her government is investing £1bn in its NHS recovery plan which she says will aim to reduce wait times.

Ross points out: "The deputy first minister said the public sector workforce would need to shrink, shouldn't that start with sacking Michael Matheson?"

Robison also refers to the Ipsos poll published yesterday and says 72% were dissatisfied with Rishi Sunak and 54% of people support independence.

She insists: "Michael Matheson is getting on with the job of being health secretary."

Douglas Ross says the SPCB will not look into any dishonest statements made by Matheson.

The Scottish Tory leader says a poll yesterday showed the vast majority of Scots believe Matheson should stand down.

"They can see he's not focused on the day job," he adds. "He needs to go for the good of our NHS."

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Michael Matheson has reimbursed the parliament in full, replies Shona Robison.

She says he has also given a personal statement in detail and referred himself to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB).

He's also rightly apologised in full, she adds.

She insists the appropriate thing to do would be to allow the SPCB to carry out its investigation.

Douglas Ross also pays tribute to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.

The Scottish Tory leader then hits back at Shona Robison saying Michael Matheson thought he could "get away" with claiming for his £11,000 roaming charge.

Ross points out Robison did not answer his question.

"It's quite clear now that this SNP government defends dishonesty," he says.

He accuses Matheson of making up "ludicrous" excuses and asks if the deputy first minister believes the health secretary has been "honest throughout this scandal".

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Shona Robison says it is very telling Douglas Ross has had nothing to say about the Autumn Statement or other major political issues in the last few weeks.

The deputy first minister points out of course ministers should tell the truth.

She says: "Sometimes people make mistakes, including of course Douglas Ross himself who made a mistake worth £28,000 when he was late with his outside earnings."

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Douglas Ross's questions are to do with Michael Matheson - the Scottish Conservative leader says the deputy first minister was asked if ministers always tell the truth.

The Scottish Tory leader asks: "Do Scottish government ministers always tell the truth?"

Image source, House of Lords

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, a "distinguished" ex-Conservative minister, died this week at the age of 81.

Lord James became a councillor in Edinburgh in 1972, then served as an MP for Edinburgh West from 1974 to 1997 and MSP for the Lothians from 1999 to 2005.

He also sat in the House of Lords from 1997 as a life peer.

He married Susan Buchan, a granddaughter of the novelist John Buchan, in 1974 and they had four sons.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross paid tribute saying: "As well as being an extremely distinguished politician at both Westminster and Holyrood, he was a true gentleman whose popularity crossed all political divides."

SNP President Michael Russell described him as a "kind and considerate man" who gave his life to public service.

He added: "He will be much missed across the parties, a rare thing which speaks volumes about his unique blend of charm, wit and political ability."

Shona Robison begins by paying warm tribute to the late Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.

The deputy first minister tells the chamber he was a "kind, funny and warm" gentleman.

Health Secretary Michael Matheson has been under pressure to resign after racking up an £11,000 data roaming bill while on holiday with his family in Morocco.

Matheson initially insisted the iPad was only used for constituency business and the charge was initially paid out of the public purse.

He admitted two weeks ago in a statement to parliament that the charge was caused by his sons watching football using his data and agreed he would pay the fine.

The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) are now investigating if the charges broke their rules on appropriate use of parliamentary devices.

• Parliament to investigate Michael Matheson's £11k iPad bill

At last week's FMQ's, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross called for the health secretary's resignation and said: "Michael Matheson is taking the public for fools."

This week an Ipsos poll for STV News suggested 61% of Scots think Matheson should resign, as well as 52% of 2021 SNP voters.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has backed his health secretary, who he described as a man of 'integrity', however he and Matheson agreed the situation could have been handled better.

The FM said Matheson made an "honest mistake" which he has apologised for and is now getting on with his job.

It's been another busy week in Scottish politics and there's still one story that won't go away.

The saga of Michael Matheson's £11,000 data roaming bill continues to make the headlines.

First Minister Humza Yousaf, who has been a staunch defender of his health secretary, is in Dubai for COP28, so his deputy Shona Robison will step in today at FMQs.

Meanwhile the health secretary's day job has also been generating stories - he recently dismissed suggestions patients may have to pay for some NHS care in the future.

The former head of the NHS in Scotland earlier called for a debate about whether the private sector should have a greater involvement in healthcare.

Image source, Jane Barlow/PA

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison takes over the hot seat as Humza Yousaf is in Dubai for COP28.

We'll bring you the action live from Holyrood, with reports and analysis throughout.

As ever, FMQs gets under way at noon. You can watch live from the chamber by clicking the play icon at the top of this page.