Summary

  • The Health Committee takes evidence from third sector organisations on health and social care in Scotland

  • The Europe Committee takes evidence from youth organisations on Scotland's future relationship with the EU

  • Topical questions focuses on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staffing issues and low income impact on the ability to buy food.

  • The Scottish government leads a debate on child tax credit cuts and the 'rape clause'

  • MSPs debate the Air Departure Tax Bill at stage 1

  • Tory MSP Maurice Golden leads this evening's member's debate on WWF Earth Hour 2017

  1. Government motion condemns 'disgraceful and repugnant rape clause "published at 14:20 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon uses her motion to call on MSPs to say they are "fundamentally opposed to the UK government’s imposition of the two-child limit on child tax credits and universal credit, which will push families into poverty".

    The minister "utterly condemns the disgraceful and repugnant rape clause".

    She says this policy is "unfair, unequal, morally unacceptable and deeply harmful to women and their children and a fundamental violation of women’s human rights".

    Ms Sturgeon says she supports those third sector and healthcare organisations that will not be third party assessors on behalf of the DWP, and calls on the UK government to urgently change its position.

  2. Background: 'Rape clause' row erupts at first minister's questionspublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Following First Minister's Questions, Nicola Sturgeon, Willie Rennie and Kezia Dugdale joined other politicians and protestors against the so-called rape clauseImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Following First Minister's Questions, Nicola Sturgeon, Willie Rennie and Kezia Dugdale joined other politicians and protestors against the so-called rape clause

    Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was greeted with calls of "shame" from rival MSPs after she refused to condemn the UK government's so-called "rape clause".

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon challenged Ms Davidson not to "pass the buck" on the child tax credit reform.

    Ms Sturgeon asked her whether she agreed it was "utterly abhorrent".

    Ms Davidson responded: "If the first minister doesn't like the two-child tax policy, she can change it."

    MSPs in the Scottish Parliament shouted "shame, shame" and Ms Sturgeon responded: "Shame on Ruth Davidson and shame on the Conservatives."

    Welfare reforms introduced by the UK government earlier this month cut child tax credit and Universal Credit for third or subsequent children.

    Read more here.

  3. Here is the first minister's motion for the child tax credit cuts debatepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    MotionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  4. Child tax credit cuts debatepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson are set for another Holyrood clash over the welfare reform policyImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson are set for another Holyrood clash over the welfare reform policy

    MSPs will now lead a debate on child tax credit cuts and the 'rape clause'.

    UK government welfare reforms cut child tax credit and Universal Credit for third or subsequent children.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to lead a Holyrood debate saying parliament should be "fundamentally opposed" to the two-child policy.

    However, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is to defend the plans on grounds of financial responsibility.

  5. Background: Trussell Trust says food parcel numbers hit new highpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    FoodbankImage source, Getty Images

    The number of emergency food parcels handed out by food banks in Scotland hit a record high last year, according to new statistics.

    The Trussell Trust says its food banks provided more than 145,000 packages to people in crisis in 2016-17.

    It marks a 9% increase on the previous year - a trend the charity blamed on benefit payment problems and low incomes.

    The UK government said the reasons for food bank use were "complex".

    "It's misleading to link them to any one issue," a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) added.

  6. Scottish Welfare Fundpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says there is a real issue to be debate around the extent to which we want foodbanks to be allied to the welfare system.

    Mr Tomkins asks what steps the government has taken to ensure people using foodbanks are aware of the Scottish Welfare Fund andother support.

    Ms Constance says it is ironic that in the face of more and more people going hungry that Mr Tomkins comes to the chamber and points to the Scottish Welfare Fund.

  7. Scottish government support for the living wagepublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Social Security Secretary Angela Constance
    Image caption,

    Social Security Secretary Angela Constance

    Social Security Secretary Angela Constance says it is depressing reading that people in Scotland are struggling to feed themselves but is not a surprise given the Westminster government's cuts.

    Ms Constance says the Scottish government is using funds to try and mitigate these cuts. 

    Mr Adam says the government's commitment to the living wage will help and asks what more can be done to promote this.

    Ms Constance says the government is investing in the living wage and supports the accreditation scheme. 

    Mr Adam says more people are now using food banks according to the Trussell Trust.

    Ms Constance says statistics are unfortunately not surprising due to Tory austerity.

  8. Background: Poverty Alliance surveypublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    According to a report in the Herald, external, one in three Scots on a low income often skips meals as they struggle to scrape by, according to a new survey.

    More than a third (37%) of those earning less than £14,000 a year have fallen behind with household bills in the last year, while 34% were regularly missing meals, research for The Poverty Alliance showed.

    More than a quarter (28%) have topped up their income with a credit card or loan, and more than one in five (22%) have fallen behind with their rent or mortgage payments.

  9. Low income questionpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    SNP MSP George Adam asks the Scottish government what its response is to a Poverty Alliance , externalsurvey, which suggests that one-in-three people in Scotland on a low income are struggling to afford food. 

  10. Labour MSP says NHS staff are overworked and undervalued by the Scottish governmentpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Labour MSP Anas SarwarImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says vacancies have gone up in the last year as has private agency usage.

    Mr Sarwar says NHS staff are overworked and undervalued by the Scottish government.

    Ms Robison says it is a shame Anas Sarwar could not find it in himself to welcome the BBC documentary on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

    She says the government values every single one of the staff at the hospital. 

  11. Staff shortagespublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Tory MSP Donald Cameron
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Donald Cameron

    Tory MSP Donald Cameron says staff shortages mean that staff are struggling to cope and asks what action will be taken.

    Ms Robison says there has been an increase in posts but some are harder to fill and it is important that boards manage that.

  12. Postpublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

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  13. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staffing level concernspublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Health Secretary Shona RobisonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Health Secretary Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison pays tribute to the staff at the hospital for their efforts as seen in the BBC documentary last night.

    Ms Robison says staff levels  in Greater Glasgow and Clyde have risen by 3.7%.

    Mr Cole-Hamilton says the dedication of the staff shone through in the BBC documentary last night.

    The Lib Dem MSP says the RCN says the pressure on staff makes it hard for them to deliver care.

    The health secretary says the government is engaging with the RCN and she says the staffing levels are reviewed daily at the safety huddles. 

  14. Background: NHS director apologises for problems at Scotland's largest hospitalpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Queen Elizabeth University HospitalImage source, google
    Image caption,

    Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

    An NHS director has apologised to patients who have experienced problems at Scotland's largest hospital.

    Dr Jennifer Armstrong said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was working to improve accident and emergency waiting times and avoid delays to treatments.

    She said she hoped a behind-the-scenes BBC documentary at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital would highlight the "incredible" work undertaken by staff.

    There have been concerns about the hospital since it opened two years ago.

    The hospital, which is one of the biggest in Europe, has consistently had some of the poorest waiting time figures for A&E in Scotland.

    Concerns have also been raised about workload pressures and the number of operations cancelled because of a shortage of beds.

  15. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staffing issuespublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks the Scottish government what its response is to claims that staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital are “incredibly stressed” and that the hospital is “very short staffed”.

  16. Topical questionspublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    We now move to topical questions, today on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staffing issues and low income impact on ability to buy food.

  17. Time for Reflectionpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Reverend Derek Lamont from the St Columba’s Free Church of ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Reverend Derek Lamont from the St Columba’s Free Church of Scotland

    Reverend Derek Lamont from the St Columba’s Free Church of Scotland, Edinburgh gives today's time for reflection.

  18. Coming up......published at 14:00 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    After topical questions, the Scottish government will lead a debate on the controversial child tax credit cuts, with the ‘rape clause’ likely to dominate what will be a compelling session.

    This debate will be followed by the Stage 1 debate on APD, which takes us to decision time at 6.20pm.

    Tory MSP Maurice Golden will then lead a member’s debate on the WWF Earth Hour 2017.

  19. That brings the Europe Committee to an endpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Europe CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Committee convener Joan McAlpine thanks the witnesses for their "articulate" evidence as well as the other young people in the gallery who did not speak but contributed to the groups.

    Ms McAlpine says it was important to get the views of young people on Brexit. 

  20. Postpublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

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