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Tory MSP Miles Briggs is leading a debate calling for improvements to the Edinburgh city bypass.

The first minister says the Scottish government and NHS official will meet Vertex next month to encourage another submission to the SMC for Orkambi.

Mr Neil welcomes that cystic fibrosis patients will be able to submit requests from tomorrow for Orkambi.

However, he urges the first minister to work on ensuring the drug is more widely available rather than through individual request.

Orkambi is not routinely available on the NHS anywhere in the UK, Ms Sturgeon highlights.

We want Vertex to bring forward a submission as soon as possible at a fair price, she adds.

The first minister also states the Scottish government will continue to implement reforms which have already led to improvement on access to new medicines.

SNP MSP Alex Neil asks whether the Scottish government will take urgent action to ensure that appropriate life-saving drugs are made available to people with cystic fibrosis.

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An independent Scotland would keep the pound for at least 10 years under proposalsset out by the SNP's Growth Commission, external.

The country could potentially then move towards introducing its own currency if six economic tests were met.

The commission wasset up two years agoto build a new economic case for independence following the Brexit vote.

Opposition parties say the SNP's pursuit of independence is doing nothing for Scotland's economy.

The 354-page analysis document - which has been billed as a "new case for optimism" - also says attracting more immigrants to Scotland is crucial.

• Reality Check: Could Scotland keep the pound?
• Brian Taylor on the significance of the report
• Our summary of the key points

Ms Sturgeon jokes that the "opposition parties hate talking about independence, don't they?"

The first minister says the report allows us the focus on growing the economy rather than solely responding to austerity from the UK government and the impact of Brexit.

Ms Baillie says the growth commission report has caused "deep splits in the SNP," highlighting criticism from Alex Bell and Kenny MacAskill.

Is the growth commission report a device for bringing forward an independence referendum or is it being used to convince SNP member of the need to delay it, the Labour MSP asks.

Ms Sturgeon says £2.6bn cuts "imposed" by the UK government would have been wiped out if Scotland had been already following the recommendations of the growth commission.

She says she will continue to argue "for a better alternative".

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks whether the Scottish government will call an independence referendum before the end of the current parliamentary session, in light of the report by the Sustainable Growth Commission.

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In February we said the number of reports to police in Scotland of suspected human trafficking hadshown a marked rise over the past year.

Figures for 2017 recorded 213 referrals to Police Scotland - up 42% on the previous year.

The most significant rise was in suspected cases of labour exploitation, up 64%, with over half relating to male victims.

Police Scotland said it was "crucial" that people continue to report their suspicions to the authorities.

The Scottish government believes the increase indicates greater awareness of the problem.

Read more here.

Ms Sturgeon says the rise in reports is a result of more people having the confidence to come forward.

The Tory MSP refers to the issue of trafficking found in Govanhill.

She seeks an assessment of how the human trafficking strategy is working in practice.

The first minister says the police are rigorously investigating concerns about Govanhill.

Ms Sturgeon lists priority actions to tackle trafficking, agreeing it is a "human tragedy".

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks what action the Scottish government is taking to tackle human trafficking and rising sexual violence in Scotland.

Image source, AFP

The board of Royal Bank of Scotland has refused to yield to demands for a halt to branch closures.

RBS chairman Sir Howard Davies told shareholders in Edinburgh that use of branches had fallen sharply as customers shifted to digital banking.

He backed chief executive Ross McEwan, who said directors realised closures were difficult for customers, colleagues and communities.

However, banking was changing and if RBS did not respond, it would fail.

Read more here.

The first minister says communities across Scotland will be adversely effected by bank branch closures, for which there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

She says there are "significant limitations" on the services Post Offices are able to offer.

Ms Sturgeon urges RBS to listen to its customers.

Ms Grahame labels the suggestion on Post Offices from RBS as "insulting and ill-informed".

The first minister is meeting the chair of RBS this afternoon, she confirms, and she intends to raise this issue.

Banks have an obligation to listen and address the concerns of their customers.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks the first minister what the Scottish government's position is on suggestions by the RBS Chief Executive that post offices are the "best solution" to replace local banks that have closed.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont raises the figures released by the Scottish Funding Council on the decrease in young people from low income families going to university.

Ms Sturgeon says these figures are from 2016-17 which predate the establishment of the Widening Access Commission.

She refers to UCAS figures from 2017-18, indicating an increase on 12% among 18-year-olds from deprived communities going to Scottish universities.

A working group on refining how to measure this issue has also been set up, the first minister adds.

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Tory MSP Maurice Corry raises the issue of Audit Scotland saying the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service faces a nearly £400m backlog in vehicle and property costs.

The first minister insists overall it is positive report and argues the figure includes some expenditure that is desirable but not essential.

The spending watchdog warned Scotland's fire service may have to close stations and cut vehicles in order to meet the massive repairs bill.

Read more here.

Mr Rennie says the funding announced this week was being cried out for months ago.

He suggests the money was held back until newspaper headlines got too bad for the Scottish government to bear.

16,000 people are waiting for treatment the Scottish Lib Dem leader says, adding this this is against the law.

When is the first minister going to obey her own law, he asks.

The first minister insists it is important for money to be kept to help when health boards are facing specific challenges.

Challenges associated with the ageing population are referred to by the first minister.