Minister sorry for ambulance waits in Scotland

1. Deputy FM Shona Robison steps in to FMQs because Humza Yousaf is unwell
2. She is questioned by by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross about ambulance waiting times. He highlights that in one week 700 ambulances were stuck outside A&E departments
3. Robison apologises to "anyone who has either experienced any waits for an ambulance to reach them or indeed has had to wait too long at A&E"
4. But she adds that similar pressures are being felt throughout the UK
5. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar raises the issue of those at risk of losing their homes and asks about the delay to the Scottish government's mortgage support scheme
6. Robison says she recognises that families are experiencing real pressures and the government would continue to look at what support it could offer

What's been making the headlines this week?

Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The budget will be delivered on Tuesday 19 December 2023.

This will be the last FMQs before next week's crucial budget statement from Finance Secretary Shona Robison.

There are reports today that Humza Yousaf intends to introduce a new tax band for higher earners.

Meanwhile a quarter of councils fear they will not be able to balance their budgets next year, results of a survey suggest.

And a special meeting of the Scottish Cabinet was called as ministers discussed a budget black hole of at least £1bn.

Education dominated last week's FMQs, following the publication of the Pisa report which showed performance in Scotland's' high schools had slipped.

This week teachers' assessments showed more than one in four Scottish state primary pupils are still not achieving the literacy levels expected of them.

Welcome

Jane Barlow/PA

Shona Robison will stand in for Humza Yousaf in this week's FMQs

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

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison will face questions from Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar this week, as Humza Yousaf is ill.

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.