Summary

  • The Standards Committee takes evidence on sexual harassment at the Scottish Parliament from representatives of all five political parties

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed during first minister's questions

  • Tory MSP leads debate on protecting greenbelt land

  • MSPs participate in a debate to mark International Women's Day

  1. Scottish Labour leader calls for child benefit top-uppublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    richard leonardImage source, bbc

    Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says his party supports increasing child benefit to tackle the shame of child poverty.

    Mr Leonard says Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens support this policy, so why wont the Scottish government.

    The first minsiter says she has looked at the top up child benefit campaign very carefully and respects many organisations making that case.

    She says seven out of every ten pounds would not go to a family in poverty under the change.

  2. 'This is a crisis of the first minister's own making'published at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Ms Davidson asks why, as a proportion, general practice gets less in Scotland than the rest of the UK.

    She says: "This is a crisis of the first minister's own making."

    The first minister cites record funding and staffing in the NHS.

    She reiterates a much made point that it is not credible for the Tories to call for more investment in the NHS when it voted against the budget.

  3. Background: Scottish NHS 'urgently' needs long-term staffing planpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    NurseImage source, Thinkstock

    Scotland's government and health boards have failed to plan effectively for long-term staffing challenges, Audit Scotland said last July.

    Overall staffing in NHS Scotland is at a record high, but auditors said the government must plan ahead better, external to "urgently address workforce issues".

    It said there were signs NHS services were "under increasing stress".

    The Scottish government said it was committed to having the right mix of skills and staff in the right places.

    But opposition parties said the "damning" report was confirmation of a "deepening workforce crisis" in the health service.

    Read more here.

  4. 'Under this SNP government the NHS workforce has increased by more than 10%'published at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Ruth DavidsonImage source, bbc

    The Scottish Conservative leader says the SNP's mismanagement of the NHS is making the situation far worse.

    Ms Davidson says a year ago she asked about the spiralling costs of locums.

    She says the cost has risen again, breaking the £300m barrier for the very first time.

    The first minister hits back saying a third less is spent on agency staff in Scotland than is spent in England.

    She says it is legitimate to look at where the Tories are in government.

    "Under this SNP government the NHS workforce has increased by more than 10%."

  5. Postpublished at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  6. Background: Rural GP concerns over Scotland's new contractpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    GPImage source, PA

    Rural doctors say Scotland's proposed new GP contract has not "adequately addressed" the challenges they face.

    They argue that while practice incomes might be protected, funding allocations would not necessarily increase under the proposed formula.

    Rural GPs see fewer patients than urban GPs, but consultations are often longer with more acute health issues.

    BMA Scotland and the Scottish government said the contract would bring "significant benefits".

    Read more here.

  7. Scottish Conservative leader says GP services are in crisispublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Ms Davidson says GP services are in crisis under the SNP.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says demand is rising and GP numbers are falling.

    Why has the first minister not sorted this out, asks Ms Davidson.

    The first minister asks why, where the Tories are in power, the decline in GPs is double what it is in Scotland.

    Ms Sturgeon says under the terms of the new GP contract no practice will lose funding.

    She says the budget included new resources to support primary care and general practice within that.

  8. Background: New Scottish GP contract gets BMA go-aheadpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Saltire stethoscopeImage source, Getty Images

    The British Medical Association has decided to implement the proposed new GP contract in Scotland.

    It follows strong backing in a poll of family doctors which found 71.5% in favour of the new deal.

    BMA Scotland said it would reduce workload and improve recruitment, although many rural doctors raised concerns about income and expenses.

    The Scottish government described it as the biggest reform of GP services in Scotland in more than a decade.

    Dr Alan McDevitt, chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee, said the agreement, which will start from 1 April, was a basis for improvements in the service.

  9. Leaders mark International Women's Daypublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    ruth davidsonImage source, bbc

    Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson starts by says on International Women's Day we must do everything we can to ensure the next generation of women have equal opportunities.

    Ms Davidson goes on to ask why a quarter of GP practices are missing a doctor.

    Ms Sturgeon echoes Ms Davidson's comments on International Women's Day.

    Then the consensus is over as she highlights Scottish government actions in primary care.

  10. Postpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  11. Postpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  12. Postpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  13. Postpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  14. First minister's questions is next.....published at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    FMQs graphic
  15. Background: Scottish child poverty report backs new and top-up benefitspublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Children playing on streetImage source, Getty Images

    Increasing key benefits could help to reduce child poverty in Scotland, a major report has said.

    Scotland's Poverty and Inequality Commission, external made 40 recommendations including topping up the child element of Universal Credit.

    It added that the ambitious target of cutting child poverty by 100,000 would incur "substantial costs".

    Equalities Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the report saying a "delivery plan" would be presented soon.

    Read more here.

  16. Child povertypublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    SNP MSP Clare Adamson asks about the government's plan for tackling child poverty and how the recommendations of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Commission will feed into this.

  17. Postpublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

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  18. Background: 'Intensive cleaning' of building work dust at Raigmorepublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Raigmore Hospital

    Disruption caused by dust to some operations at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital has come to an end.

    Floors of the hospital's theatres were found to be contaminated by dust from recent construction work.

    NHS Highland postponed some patients' surgery for health and safety reasons and to allow for "intensive, deep cleans" to be carried out.

    It said it regretted the disruption had happened and was "very sorry for the inconvenience" caused to patients.

    The theatres had been undergoing an upgrade as part of a multi-million pound refurbishment of the hospital.

    Several deep cleans have been carried out of the theatres.

  19. Operation theatrespublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Tory MSP Edward Mountain asks how many operating theatres in Scotland have wooden doors and plaster walls, in light of reported problems at Raigmore Hospital.

  20. NHS Grampian remains worst performing health boards says Tory MSPpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    ChamberImage source, bbc

    Health Secretary Shona Robison says NHS Grampian is chanelling funding to deal with its waiting times issues.

    Ms Halcro Johnson says NHS Grampian continues to remain the worst performing health board regarding waiting times.

    Ms Robison says a great deal of time and resources has gone towards supporting the health board.

    An additional £400m has been put into the health budget, some of which will go towards health boards.

    NHS Grampian will receive an uplift of 2.1% in its latest funding round.