The first minister says she "deprecates the Brexit vandalism of the Tory government".

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The UK voluntary living wage, promoted by the Living Wage Foundation campaign group, is to rise by 20p an hour.

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The new rate is rising to £8.45 per hour, from its current £8.25. For those living in London, the rate will rise by 35p to £9.75 an hour, the city's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced.

Nearly 3,000 businesses are signed up to the scheme, including Ikea and EDF.

The scheme is separate from the government's National Living Wage, introduced in April this year.

The government's figure is set at £7.20 an hour for workers aged 25 and above.

Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks what the Scottish government's response is to the new living wage rate.

The first minister welcomes the £8.45 rate and encourages all employers to recognise the benefit of paying it.

Ms Baillie says there has been significant progress in the public sector but calls for more to be done in the private sector.

The Scottish Labour MSP asks about the uptake of the Business Pledge.

Ms Sturgeon says the government continues to encourage more companies to sign up to the pledge.

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The University of Strathclyde paper explores the potential impact of Brexit on the Scottish financial services sector.

Read the University of Strathclyde paper here. , external

Scottish Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart asks what the Scottish government's response is to the University of Strathclyde paper on Brexit and the Scottish Financial Services Sector.

Ms Sturgeon says there is further new evidence of the damage of a so-called hard Brexit.

She says the government is working with the Scottish financial sector, and distances itself from what she describes as the damaging anti-immigrant rhetoric of the UK government. 

Mr Lockhart asks what currency the Scottish government would use in the event of an independent Scotland.

The first minister says for a Tory to lead on currency is almost as inept as Ruth Davidson asking about constitutional uncertainty on the day of the Brexit High Court ruling.

Nicola Sturgeon called on the UK government to guarantee EU nationals living in the UK can remain after Brexit in August.

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Scotland's first minister made her plea as she hosted a question and answer session with hundreds of EU nationals.

Many were concerned about whether they would have the right to live and work in Scotland when the UK leaves the EU.

Ms Sturgeon said it was "disgraceful" that the UK had not guaranteed the right of EU nationals to remain.

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire asks what analysis the Scottish government has conducted into the contribution that migrants make to Scotland.

The first minister says there is now robust evidence about the contribution of migrants to Scottish society.

Ms Sturgeon says: "European migrants in particular make a contribution to the public purse."

She says all migrants are welcome in Scotland and their contribution is valued.

The UK government rhetoric on the issue is not welcome, says Ms Sturgeon, and decries the UK government for using EU citizens as bargaining chips.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks about the treatment of a constituent in Liberton Hospital

Mr Cole-Hamilton says the constituent has spent his 150th night in hospital since being told he was fit to go home.

The first minister says the government is dedicated to ending delayed discharges and the health secretary will be writing to Mr Cole-Hamilton.

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More supplementary questions, this time on the "Tory Telephone Tax", where the DWP helpline costs people money.

The issue of Gartnavel hospital services is also raised, as is the High Court decision on Brexit.

The first minister says the Scottish government is looking very carefully at the deicsion.

Ms Sturgeon says the UK government does not want a parliamentary vote as it has no coherent position.

Green MSP John Finnie then raises the issue of enterprise agencies giving money to the arms trade.

Mr Harvie says only the SNP can let its own council tax plans to fall at decision time.

The Scottish Green MSP asks: "Is wounded pride is worth £100m?"

The first minister says the government amendment goes on to talk about fairness in taxation, which the Scottish Green amendment does not have.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie calls for real reform of local taxation and says the council tax must end.

Mr Harvie says tonight's vote on changing the bands is one area the Greens can agree with the government and will vote for.

He says the minority government must accept modest criticism, and the SNP must not vote against its own proposal if the Green amendment is passed.

The first minister says her support for the council tax plans is solid and she says Derek Mackay's amendment recognises local democracy.

Nicola Sturgeon says there are two amendments to the SSI, the Greens one and the Scottish government one and she calls for the chamber to back the latter.

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor raises the isue of the death of Sean McKenna and the first minister expresses her condolences.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith raises the issue of health services, while SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks about job losses at Murray and Burrell building contractors.