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The Health Committee heard evidence from parents affected by the baby ashes scandal, as it considered the Burial and Cremation Bill
The government's response to the flooding in Scotland and the progress being made on the Forth Road Bridge were in today's topical questions
Nicola Sturgeon led a debate entitled 'Supporting Public Services, Tackling Inequality and Growing Scotland’s Economy'
The importance of the Celtic rainforest was highlighted in the member's debate
Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says Scotland needs to be bolder on the ethical working agenda.
Mr Harvie says simply measuring the economy on GDP growth alone means the government is fuelling inequality.
He says the opportunities before Scotland are extraordinary at the moment.
Scotland must grasp these opportunities and make the break from the fossil fuel economy, Mr Harvie says.
Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says the pressure to privatise public services will increase in coming years.
Mr Harvie says a tax cutting agenda in the next parliament, be it benefiting the aviation industry or for rich individuals, will make that pressure worse.
He says there must be adequate funding for local authorities to ensure public service provision.
Mr Harvie says closing the gap between rich and poor will be priority of the Greens.
Mr Rennie says the decline in our once leading education system must be reversed.
He calls for a pupil premium to help achieve this.
The Scottish Lib Dem MSP says the SNP cannot even deliver its "timid and pathetic" plans on nursery provision.
Mr Rennie says the habit of missing Scotland's climate change targets must be broken.
Image source, SPLScottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says key liberal values should be at the heart of the next parliament.
Mr Rennie says with just five MSPs the Lib Dems have achieved much.
With more MSPs the Liberal voice will be much louder, he says.
The Scottish Lib Dem MSP says police, schools, the NHS and the environment were stuck in the boot while the SNP put independence in the driver's
Ms Davidson says her party will pledge 1,000 extra nurses and rebuilding, not decimating, colleges.
She says the Conservatives will soon be able to determine how best to use the "huge powers coming to this parliament".
Image source, PAThe Scottish Conservative leader says the SNP's primary goal and purpose is the break up of the UK.
The Scottish Conservative leader says something in Scotland needs to change and if the government does not change, the opposition should, with her party ready to serve.
Ms Davidson says she makes no apology for standing up for the union and says the SNP must be held to its pledge to hold an independence referendum only once in a generation.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says her party wants to use the powers of this parliament to increase freedom and increase choice.
Ms Davidson says the government should be there to "help but not hector".
People's potential must be released, she says.
"A principled, practical Scottish alternative to the SNP."
The Scottish Labour leader says: "It is time for a real change, not excuses."
Ms Dugdale calls for a three year budget rather than the one year budget now.
She says delayed discharge could be dealt with by investing in social care and care workers should be paid the living wage.
Ms Dugdale says nearly a decade into government it its time to stop campaigning and start really governing.
Ms Dugdale says every time the SNP chooses the easy politics of grievance rather than finding solutions.
She says Scotland cannot keep waiting for the change it is crying out for.
The first minister has not delivered the change after the SNP have been in power of nearly a decade, so why should the public trust them now.
Ms Dugdale says the SNP team refuses to accept responsibility for the power they have and cannot unlock the powers that are coming.
They stand for independence, says Ms Dugdale, but what else?
The Scottish Labour leader says the SNP have cut teacher numbers and cut NHS spending.
Ms Dugdale says student debt has doubled and support been cut.
She says college numbers have been slashed.
Ms Dugdale says there is a crisis in the North Sea oil industry.
SNP MSP Dennis Robertson says there is no crisis.
The Scottish Labour leader says this is an "astonishing remark".
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale says she "looks forward to 2016 with both hope and ambition".
Ms Dugdale says there is "an incredible opportunity" for this parliament to use powers to break from austerity.
Ms Sturgeon says the SNP will not take one single vote for granted.
The SNP leader says she hopes her plans will win the trust and the support of all of those politicians are priviledged to represent.
Ms Sturgeon says: "Independence is the best future for our country".
The case will be made positively and powerfully and she is confident that majority support will be forthcoming in the next few years.
The first minister says the most transformational change will be in childcare, doubling current provision.
Ms Sturgeon says a "distinctly Scottish approach to welfare" will be produced.
The first minister says the process of health and social care integration is well underway.
