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Goodbye from the Holyrood Live team for a couple of weeks as we now enter autumn recess.

Scotland's NHS boards are to have their debts written off as part of a "new deal" for their financial planning.

Auditors had raised concerns about the financial health of some boards, which have taken millions of pounds of loans from the government to break even.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman told MSPs that a new three-year budgetary cycle will begin from 2019-20.

And health boards will be given a "clean sheet" at the start of this, with all prior loans written off.

See you on Tuesday 22 October!

Children and Young People Minister Maree Todd highlights a growing awareness of how to provide sporting opportunities for girls facing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Sport can bring together people from all parts of life she says, and jokes about how she plays on the parliamentary women's rugby team with the Tory frontbench.

We recognise the need for more female coaches to attract the next generation into sport, Ms Todd says, noting on 31% of coaches in the UK are women.

The minister also says young female sport leaders must be allowed to shine and she supports SportScotland for supporting these efforts.

If we work together on driving forward improvements, we'll drive forward change for the women and girls of Scotland concludes Ms Todd.

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Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton says sport is vitally important for physical and mental health and she thanks our Scottish sports women who do so much for the country.

She praises Scottish Border's champions who are fantastic sportswomen including Scottish hockey midfielder Sarah Roberston from Selkirk, Sammi Kinghorn from Gordon, the fastest ever British female wheelchair racer, and freestyle simmer Lucy Hope from Jedburgh.

Ms Hamilton says she tries to support as many local sporting teams as possible.

She says barriers still exist for girls trying to get into sport.

The Tory MSP explains when girls move into their teenage years sport participation decreases and this must be addressed.

Labour MSP Mary Fee says low participation of women in sport begins between the ages of 13 and 15.

This is why the active school programme plays a pivotal role she tells the chamber.

She argues it is clear more must be done to engage young women in sport, noting the gap is reflective of women missing from wider public society too.

Women returned 2 Gold, 5 Silver and 6 Bronze medals for Scotland at the Gold Coast Games Ms Fee notes.

To achieve gender parity, we must ensure sport is more accessible and more inclusive she insists.

All of the Scotland women's squad will be able to train full-time for next year's World Cup after a funding boost from the Scottish Government.

Home-based players who are not professional currently combine working with playing for leading sides such as Glasgow City and Hibernian.

But around £80,000 of funding will mean Shelley Kerr's squad will be full-time from January to the tournament in June.

"This is great news for everyone in Scottish women's football," Kerr said.

• Scotland hope to avoid 'big hitters'
• Scottish football on the rise - Kerr
• What will qualification do for Scotland Women?
• Read more here

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cottish women's football will never accept sponsorship deals with alcohol or gambling companies, says the organisation's chair Vivienne MacLaren.

All three main domestic competitions in the senior men's game in Scotland are sponsored by betting companies.

But MacLaren says Scottish Women's Football (SWF) has a duty to only associate with "positive" brands.

"Over 80% of our members who play football are in youth teams and are under 18," MacLaren told BBC Scotland.

• All Scotland players to be full-time for World Cup
• Scottish women's game 'can be semi-pro in three years'

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BBC Sport's Maggie Alphonsi looks at how the menstrual cycle affects performance at both the professional and grassroots level of sport.

WATCH: Here

ALSO WATCH: Rugby transformed my life - Keira Philpott

READ MORE: Our guide to making the most of Women's Sport Week

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Scottish Women in Sport, external:

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By the time girls reach the age of 18,40% of girls have dropped out of all sports activity, external. The benefits of activity are enormous, so what can be done to reverse the drop-out rate? Some prominent women in sport share their views.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur begins by highlighting a series of women from Orkney who have enjoyed huge success in sports.

Being a woman in a male dominated sport cannot be easy he says.

But he adds that the success of women can inspire more girls to get involved.

Playing sport should be the norm for young girls, the same as learning numeracy and literacy at school the Lib Dem argues.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone expresses delight at the opportunity to take part in today’s debate.

It is important to answer the question of why more women and girls turn away from sport, she says.

Ms Johnstone goes on to highlight how little time is dedicated to women’s sport in the media, suggesting it is therefore of little surprise to see how few women are active.

“We need to get bold when it comes to physical inactivity.”

She hopes to be able to come back to chamber next year and to be able to say the gender gap in sports have closed markedly.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar points out that the gap in participation levels for boys and girls is relatively low at a young age, but this increases massively by the time they are teenagers.

He says only half of 15 year-old girls meet the daily recommendation for exercise.

Exercise has many benefits, including on tackling obesity and helping people sleep, the Labour MSP explains.

Mr Sarwar notes people are far more likely to remain active later in life if they are involved in sport as a child.

We must look to a diverse range of sports to encourage more women and girls into sport, he says.

He also suggests proceeds from a sugar tax could be used to offer free sporting opportunities.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Tory MSP Brian Whittle recalls a time, “not that long ago”, when the longest distance female runners could compete in was 3,000m.

We nearly have parity now, he says.

Mr Whittle says we must continue to focus on schools as it is the place where a lot of children will first experience sport.

Linking school sport to extra-curricular activity and community activity is important, he argues.

The Tory MSP insists there is little point introducing a child to a sport at school if there is then nowhere outside school to further any interest.

He suggests even looking at the inclusion of sport in nursery programmes, given this is play-based.

Image source, Scottish parliament

However, Mr Fitzpatrick accepts there is work to do in encouraging women and girls to take part in more sport.

Women and Girls in Sport Week offers an opportunity to support this, he says.

Funding awards ranging from £10,000-£30,000 will continue to be made to promote activity he confirms.

The sports minister praises sports clubs for “grasping the thistle” and working to improve the sporting environment for women and girls.

This is an exciting year in sport for women, he says - and highlights the Scottish women’s football team qualifying for the World Cup as one example.

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Having more women leaders in sport is "not enough" on its own to bring about cultural change, says campaign group Women in Sport.

It is one of the conclusions of a new report by the charity, which works to promote gender equality in sport.

Beyond 30% - Workplace Culture in Sport was based on surveys of more than 1,000 people working in sport.

Women in Sport will share the report to help "raise awareness and understanding" of discrimination.

Read more here.