Ms Smith says there is an obligation to address the concerns around the Named Person policy, but reiterates her party's opposition to it.

She says it would be unforgiveable if this led to an impact on the welfare of children.

Ms Smith says there is no opt-out from the Named Person policy.

She says the first minister has confused the issue by saying Named Persons are not compulsary but the legislation does not concur with that.

The Tory MSP says the current guidance is not fit for purpose.

She says the EIS does not want its members to be Named Person over the holidays and adds it is a "bureaucratic nightmare".

Ms Smith says John Swinney has said he wants to reduce the workload for teachers and scrapping the paper work around the named person would do that.

The Tory MSP says professionals are concerned that more paperwork will lead to the most vulnerable children receiving less attention than they should.

She then goes on to express concern about data sharing arising the from the Named Person policy.

Ms Smith says the term "wellbeing" in the Named Person policy is difficult to define.

In response to an intervention from Labour MSP Daniel Jonnson, she insists her party remain opposed to the policy. 

Ms Smith highlights concerns around the case load burden that she says frontline staff will face.

SNP MSP Mark Macdonald intervenes saying the RCN are not calling for the policy to be scrapped or paused.

Ms Smith hits back saying the RCN have expressed concerns about resources and work load.

From 31 August of this year, a "named person" will be appointed to monitor the welfare of every child in Scotland.

Opponents of the scheme are attempting to have it quashed by the law courts, arguing that the legislation amounts to a "Big Brother" scheme that will undermine parents, breach a family's right to privacy and divert resources away from children who are genuinely vulnerable.

But many children's charities say the scheme will help ensure more cases of child abuse and neglect are uncovered and dealt with.

Click here to find out more about the Named Person scheme.

Image source, Thinkstock

Conservative MSP Liz Smith begins by stressing that the debate is about whether the Named Person scheme can be delivered in the best interests of families and their children.

Ms Smith says there can be no doubt that the vast majority of submissions to the parliament showed strong support for the Named Person policy.

She says the support was for the general principles of the policy but was often qualified by concerns about resources and workload.

The Tory MSP says it is these concerns that have come to dominate the debate and these concerns are serious.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Here's Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Liz Smith's motion

The Scottish Conservatives question whether the policy is "deliverable in the proposed format", and whether it is "in the best interests of children and families".

Education spokeswoman Liz Smith said the Tories had "deliberately steered clear" of explicitly opposing the policy as a whole in the debate, although the party still wants to see it scrapped.

Image source, bbc

She said: "The Scottish Conservatives believe there is growing parliamentary consensus for a major rethink.

"But there is also growing concern expressed by many frontline professionals - many of whom have no party political affiliation.

"We believe there is an urgent need to address the practical concerns of professionals and parents about the workability of the policy which, if it is not dealt with, could seriously undermine the welfare of children across Scotland."

The Scottish Conservatives will use this debate to call for a rethink of the Named Person policy before it comes into force in August.

The Named Person measure will assign a single point of contact, such as a teacher or health visitor, to look out for the welfare of children under 18.

The Tories say it is an intrusion into family life. The Scottish government believe it will protect children.

Image source, Thinkstock

Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "The Scottish government can't just dismiss worries about Named Persons as scaremongering - not when professionals on the front line are expressing concerns.

"The Scottish Conservative opposition is determined to ensure that these concerns are heard in parliament and given a proper hearing."

A government spokeswoman said the policy was "widely supported" by children's charities and welfare organisations.

She added: "It is a policy which is aimed at protecting children's well-being, and is about supporting, not diminishing, the role of parents."

The Forth Road bridge was closed to all traffic on 4 December after a crack was discovered in a truss under the carriageway.

Image source, PA

It reopened to all vehicles except HGVs after engineers installed a steel splint to repair the cracked truss at the north end of the bridge.

The bridge fully re-opened to HGVs in March. 

The 51-year-old bridge, which runs between Fife and Edinburgh, is used by an estimated 70,000 vehicles a day and its closure caused significant disruption to commuters and businesses.

Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour asks what confidence can we have the project will be delivered under budget now that the timetable has been missed.

Mr Brown says the £245m savings are not impacted by the delay, any further work is at the expense of the contractor. 

A construction worker was killed in an incident on the Queensferry Crossing in April. 

The man is thought to have been hit by the moving boom on a Giraffe crane on the deck of the north tower.

It is understood the 60-year-old suffered severe blood loss and he was unable to be resuscitated.

Another man was injured in the incident. Work has stopped for investigations to take place.

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone asks if days were lost by the project's only casualty and calls for a guarantee of no compromises over health and safety.

Mr Brown says the tragic death of John Cousin did cause a delay.

He says he will not apply any pressure on the contractors that affects health and safety. 

Economy Secretary Keith Brown says the workforce on the bridge thinks they are involved in a fantastic project.

Mr Brown says they will be dismayed by Mr Cole-Hamilton's assertion of the project being in "abject distress".

He says he deplores the Scottish Lib Dem MSP's comments.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamiltion says the Queensferry Crossing is a "project in abject distress".

He asks the minister : "Does he take us for fools."

The Lib Dem MSP asks if the minister expects MSPs to believe that the first that ministers heard about a delay was after the election.

Mr Brown reiterates that any member that wants to meet with him and the contractors on Friday will be more than welcome.

The economy secretary says there is a full health check on the existing bridge following its closure over the winter.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says this delay is disappointing but it must be viewed in perspective as the bridge is good news for Scotland

Mr Rowley asks if there are any concerns about the existing bridge and when the government knew about the delays.