Tory MSP Maurice Golden asks when the agreement process will conclude for families currently getting treatment at the RAH.

Shona Robison notes 200 families have complex health needs, for whom plans must be in place before changes go ahead.

She commits to holding to health board to this.

Image source, bbc

The health secretary says the submission from the board came to her on the 14 March 1017, which was the first time she saw the clinical advice to close the ward.

Ms Robison reiterates that her decision was based on that clinical advice.

If Anas Sarwar thinks he knows better than the local clinicians he better explain how, she says.

The health secretary says if this was about money Lightburn Hospital would have been closed, saving £4m.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says the government had previously denied proposals to close either Lightburn Hopsital or the RAH children's ward when a leaked paper regarding cuts came out.

He says the decision is a result of cuts imposed by the government and issues in staffing.

"Where were the local MSPs?", he asks, name checking George Adam and Derek Mackay.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says on 1 May 2016 Nicola Sturgeon promised there were no proposals to close the children's ward in Paisley, but here we are now.

Mr Briggs asks if the first minister mislead the public because there was an election.

He says for the health secretary and Nicola Sturgeon this there "Nick Clegg moment in this parliament".

Ms Robison says the proposals of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board did not decide on this proposals until 18 October 2016, well after the comments from the first minister.

She says she cannot say the local clinicians are wrong and plans will be put in place for all families affected.

Image source, Getty Images

Shona Robison says the health board sees no risk in the change in terms of treatment for patients.

She notes local people may be "deeply disappointed" by the decision, with particular concerns around the integration with community services.

The health secretary says the decision comes with two conditions:

1. The health board must maintain and improve community-based pediatric services
2. The health board must work directly with families from Paisley on service access plans before any service changes made

Any specific concerns from families will be addressed on an individual basis, she adds.

Image source, bbc

Ms Robison says the decision to allow NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to move in-patient and day care services for children from the Royal Alexandra Hospital to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children was one of the hardest she has ever had to make.

The health secretary says the A&E departments at both hospitals will continue to take children in.

She says the lead paediatric team back the proposals.

The implementation of the changes will contribute to better outcomes for children, she says.

Health Secretary Shona Robison says her paramount concern about the proposals around Lightburn Hospital was the removal of a facility in one of the most deprived areas in Scotland.

She explains that she concludes other measures were not there to support the closure of Lightburn Hospital.

She welcomes plans for collaborative work to create a facility in the east end of Glasgow in the future.

Image source, Google

Shona Robison has agreed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde can move in-patient and day care services for children to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children.

She said the move was "in the best interests of children".

But she blocked another proposal to close Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow until new services have been put in place in the east end of the city.

Ms Robison said: "My priority is to ensure that patient safety is maintained and this will remain at the heart of every decision on redesigning services.

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Shona Robison says NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde submitted major service change proposals to the government.

Ms Robison says she took appropriate time to consider the proposals and visited the children's ward at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley and other facilities.

She says she carefully considered the Lightburn Hospital changes.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says accessible housing is not just for wheelchair users.

She calls for a strategy to ensure more new housing units are readily adaptable.

"I don't want to be dictatorial to local authorities", Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says, explaining different local authorities have different needs.

This is often easier where councils have their own housing, he says.

He adds that councils without their own housing stock are expected to cooperate with housing associations to see what is required in their area.

He urges councils to consider use of Housing Options Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Ms McNeill says the Independent investigation has found almost 10,000 disabled people in Scotland are stuck in unsuitable council houses, with some still on waiting lists despite requesting a move decades ago.

The investigation was carried out by i News., external

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says work is underway to provide housing that meets the individuals needs.

Mr Stewart says 91% of the housing being delivered is housing for varying needs.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks the Scottish government what action it is taking to reduce the number of disabled people on housing waiting lists.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith notes the wealth gap is widening in Scotland and urges the Scottish government to ensure the richest in society pay their "fair share".

Angela Constance notes the report makes a number of recommendations to governments around the world but does not make specific recommendations to Scotland.

She notes 60% of Scotland's spending power is dependent on decisions taken at Westminster.

The government is working to tackle structural inequality, she adds, and notes the government will work with the Poverty and Inequality Commission to do so.

SNP MSP Gillian Martin wonders how the Scottish government is promoting a more egalitarian society.

Angela Constance says tackling inequality is "part and parcel" of everything the government does.

"Almost all the super-rich are men", says Gillian Martin.

She notes the contribution unpaid carers make to the global economy and asks about how the government is closing the wealth gap.

The cabinet secretary points to the measures to increase the number of family-friendly workplaces, investment in early learning and childcare, and the carer positive scheme.

Image source, Oxfam

"Last year saw the biggest increase in billionaires in history, one more every two days.

"This huge increase could have ended global extreme poverty seven times over. 82% of all wealth created in the last year went to the top 1%, and nothing went to the bottom 50%.

"Dangerous, poorly paid work for the many is supporting extreme wealth for the few. Women are in the worst work, and almost all the super-rich are men.

"Governments must create a more equal society by prioritizing ordinary workers and small-scale food producers instead of the rich and powerful."

Image source, bbc

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance welcomes the Oxfam report.

Ms Constance says the draft budget set out proposals for a progressive income tax policy and she says the government is delivering a number of poilcies to address poverty, disadvantage and inequality.

Image source, Oxfam

SNP MSP Gillian Martin asks the Scottish government what its response is to the Oxfam report, Reward Work, Not Wealth, external, and what action it is taking to tackle inequality.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks about discussions with the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB).

The minister confirms engagement has taken place and SLAB is "comfortable" with the changes being made.

Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst suggests the changes are poorly timed given the forthcoming legal aid review.

Ms Ewing says the new legislation will come into force in two days and adds it would have been inappropriate to not have mechanisms in place by then.

The legal aid review is expected next month, she says.