Following the government's defeat over the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 at decision time, Minister for Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing says 

“Today’s vote threatens to set us back as a country in our efforts to effectively combat prejudice, hate crime and sectarianism and ultimately to drive such behaviour out of Scottish society.

“The result of the vote sends completely the wrong message about how serious Parliament as a whole is about doing so – but the Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to that objective.

Image source, PA

  “Evidence shows strong public support for this legislation, the repeal of which would leave a significant gap in effectively prosecuting hate crime.  

“The removal of the Section 6 offence on threatening communications would create a serious gap in the law and leave Scotland lagging behind the rest of the UK – where threats intended to stir up religious hatred have been criminalised since 2006 – yet still those opposing it offer no viable alternatives."

Image source, Welfare Conditionality Project

You can read the first wave findings on social security in Scotland here, external.  

Image source, Getty Images

SNP MSP Sandra White leads this afternoon's members debate on the Welfare Conditionality Study.

Here's SNP MSP Sandra White's motion:

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Labour MSP James Kelly gets to his feet to raise a point of order.

Mr Kelly says he rises to his feet to make the point of order under rule 8.17 under standing orders.

He says the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act is dead in the water and says the government must repeal it urgently.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says the vote is not binding but the voice of he parliament has been heard.

The Scottish Conservative motion on NHS in Scotland 2016 as amended is agreed to.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Scottish government amendment on NHS in Scotland is rejected, with 69 MSPs backing it, the amendment from Labour falls.

The Scottish Conservative motion on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 is agreed to, with 64 MSPs backing it and 63 against.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Scottish government amendment on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 is rejected, with 63 MSPs backing it and with 64 against.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Science Photo Library

Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle says the government acts as if they know better than everyone else.

Mr Whittle says the damning Audit Scotland report shows the Scottish government must be responsible for more than constitutional change.

He calls on all opposition MSPs to call the government to account.

Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle says effective budgeting and planning is what is required in the NHS.

Mr Whittle says funding is needed in a number of key areas. 

He says the explosion in diabetes cases cases along with cardiovascular issues and strokes are causing a strain on NHS finances. 

Ms Robison says the government has a plan for elective centres that will have a direct impact on minor surgery waiting times.

The health secretary says Scotland's auditor general said Scotland's NHS performance stands up well to scrutiny and comparisons with the rest of the UK.

The minister says 90% of inpatients have rated their care as good or excellent.

Health Secretary Shona Robison says the government stood on a platform in the last election with the most funding for the NHS and it was elected.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says the SNP promised to save the services at the Vale of Leven in the last election.

Ms Robison says the government's commitment to the Vision of the Vale remains.

Scottish Labour MSP Colin Smyth says this debate has allowed MSPs to reflect on ten years of NHS management under the SNP.

Mr Smyth says the Audit Scotland report is like "groundhog day".

The Labour MSP says the government have very little to show for their decade in charge.

He says the government have said they are "pouring money into the NHS" but the simple fact is that the level of investment has not matched the level of demand.

Mr Smyth says the government's "nasty and vindictive attacks" on local government budgets will make it difficult to cope with the shift of care to the community. 

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says the SNP government is failing on many of the tests of looking after the sick.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says the Audit Scotland report was excoriating of the SNP.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Alison Johnstone welcomes the Audit Scotland report and its call for three year financial frameworks for health boards.

Ms Johnstone says she hopes to see this recommendation included in government plans.

She says: "The report says spending is not matching public demand."

The Green MSP says the Royal College of Nursing calls the pace of transition "painfully slow".

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says the Audit Scotland report was a "watershed for the NHS in Scotland".

Mr Findlay says ministers respond to concerns with "robotic statements".

He says the concerns are not scaremongering they are simply the reality being experienced by NHS staff and patients.

The Labour MSP says the SNP cite record funding, but means the Audit Scotland report is a damning indictment of the management of that funding. 

He says the irony of the Tory party lecturing anyone about the NHS is beyond satire.

SNP MSP Ash Denham says the challenges facing the health service are not unique to Scotland.

Ms Denham says the NHS budget for this year is £12.2bn showing the commitment of the SNP to health.

She also points to the increased staffing levels in the NHS.