Tory MSP Finlay Carson asks what upgrades are planned for the A75.

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Childcare Minister Mark Macdonald says the Scottish government is doing more than any other government has in the past including the Westminster government.

The minister outlines support available.

Mr Burnett highlights a nursery in his constituency which has had to close with "no help from the Scottish government".

Mr Macdonald says the company running the nursery has another premises which will still be operating with support from the Scottish government. 

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett asks what help the government provides to nurseries in the North East Scotland region.  

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says bus companies are being discouraged from promoting free bus passes in rural services.

Mr Rumbles ask if this is government policy.

Mr Yousaf says "no".

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Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says the government provides a grant.

Mr Yousaf says this shows a commitment to transport in rural areas. 

Tory MSP John Lamont says council budgets have been cut meaning some rural routes are no longer commercially viable. 

Mr Yousaf says the Borders Railway is a great success and that the government is providing money to the local authorities via the block grant. 

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Just under 88% of patients attending accident and emergency departments in Scotland in the first week of 2017 were seen within four hours.

The Scottish government wants at least 95% of patients seen within that time.

A total of 25,066 people presented at A&E, with 454 spending more than eight hours to be seen, admitted then transferred or discharged.

Separate statistics showed a slight drop in the number of people delayed in hospital longer than necessary.

Delayed discharge, or so-called bed blocking, occurs when care packages are not ready or available within the community.

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Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says the team are working closely with NHS boards including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Ms Campbell says a number of measures have been put in place which are beginning to show results. 

Ms Wells says the Queen Elizabeth hospital frequently misses the target and asks what the minister will do to improve this.

Ms Campbell says she has already said actions are being taken forward and the government continues to work with the chairman.

"We concede that more needs to be done," she says. 

Tory MSP Annie Wells asks what action the government is taking to ensure that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde meets its A&E waiting times target.  

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Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says the government already offer concessionary schemes to young people aged between 16 and 18 on a rage of public transport. 

 Ms McNeil says it seems unfair that young people have to pay full fares from their 16th birthday.

Mr Yousaf says there are discount schemes there for those in that age group but the government are going through the strategy in the national transport review.

"I am willing to be open-minded to see what they can do," he says.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks what the government's position is on extending child fares to the age of 18 for all forms public transport.  

Image source, PA/Scottish Parliament

General questions kicks off at 11.40pm and then we will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions,with all the social media reaction as it happens.

Image source, Scottish Parliament/PA

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Olivia Ndoti, a service user with ASH says: "You can punish me but not my child."

Natalia Jane Farmer from ASH says Olivia is living on £25 per week ant that is inhumane.

Committee convener Christina McKelvie thanks the witnesses and the committee moves into private session.

Olivia Ndoti from ASH says there must be more help for babies and children. 

Ms Ndoti says if you look at the children in this position "most of them are zombies and cannot speak properly" because of what they have been through.

She says she cannot even access fruit and vegetables at time, "that's £3.50 that has been refused," she says.

"We need to focus on the little ones". 

Mr Coffey says: "How do we stop it from getting worse?"

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership says: "Consecuetive UK governments have used destitution as a policy too."

Mr Mitchell says the Scottish government can continue to talk to the UK government about aspects of the legislation that are inhumane.

He says the Scottish government has responsibility for devolved issues.

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says there is a fundamental issue with the legislation from Westminster. 

Ms Millar says there are differences, in terms of approach, between local authorities that deal with it regularly and those that do not deal with it often. 

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership says social work staff do not come into work on a daily basis not to help people.

Mr Mitchell says "we have a blunt policy tool of destitution".

SNP MSP Willie Coffey says the evidence the committee has heard has been pretty harrowing.

Mr Coffey says the immigration and asylum system is "fractured beyond repair" according to Derek Mitchell.

He says the committee wants to get to the bottom of why families with children are being treated in this disgraceful manner.

Mr Coffey says something radical must be done to ensure a more humane approach.

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Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says the system is entirely counterintuitive.

Ms Millar says: "The primary legislation says that people with no recourse to public funds should be ignored."

She says the council has to find ways around the primary legislation

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership says across the range of issues there is a collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders.

Mr Mitchell says because of limited resources "some things need to be set aside" at times at times.