That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 24 October 2018.

A no deal Brexit is becoming the most likely outcome of the UK's negotiations with EU leaders, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Holyrood committee conveners.

Ms Sturgeon said that she was "increasingly concerned" that no deal will be struck.

And she said the situation is "the biggest failure of government policy and handling" seen in her lifetime.

Talks over the withdrawal agreement are said to be 95% complete, but have stalled over the issue of the border in Northern Ireland.

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says a family's circumstances should not be exacerbated by official barriers.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson wonders if it would be appropriate to bring forward a right to a post-mortem when the body is returned to Scotland, noting this is possible in England and Wales.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone insists it is not interfering to ensure UK citizens are treated to the same standard of citizens of the country the death occurs in.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf confirms he will be meeting with Kirsty Maxwell's family after the debate to discuss various issues raised about support.

He agrees to discuss the post-mortem suggestion with the Lord Advocate.

SNP MSP Angela Constance tells the chamber about Kirsty Maxwell, who fell from the balcony of her hotel while on holiday in Spain in 2017.

She highlights how her family have been seeking an explanation as to the circumstances of her death.

Services provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is patchy Ms Constance says, adding there is room for improvement at both UK and Scottish level.

The needs and rights of those who have had a loved one who have died abroad is missing from the victims code in Scotland, she explains.

The SNP MSP calls for guidance or regulations to ensure there is a duty to provide support to families.

Police Scotland is not officially notified by the FCO if a Scot died abroad she notes.

Image source, PA

SNP MSP Angela Constance leads a member's debate on support provided to the families of those who die abroad.

It follows criticism of the way the Foreign and Commonwealth Office deal with such circumstances.

MSPs have backed the Scottish government's amendment to Labour's motion on the Monkland's Hospital site, with 94 for and 26 against.

The amended motion is agreed, with 98 votes for it and 21 votes against it.

Image source, Scottish parliament

The Scottish government amendment on 'Ending Austerity, Poverty and Inequality' is agreed with 61 votes for and 59 votes against. As a consequence, the Tory amendment falls.

The amended motion is passed with 66 votes for and 54 against.

Poverty rates in Scotland are continuing to rise, official figures have suggested.

In each year between 2014 and 2017, one million people in Scotland, external were living in poverty, which was up slightly on previous years.

The latest statistics also show 8% of people are in "persistent poverty".

The Scottish government said it was "absolutely committed" to ending poverty and would set out its plan to eradicate child poverty by 2030.

Read more.

Some people will be worse off under universal credit - but they can take on more work to increase their income, the minister in charge says.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey defended the new benefit system amid reports 3.2 million households, external will lose more than £2,000 year.

She told the BBC some people would lose out because the government had made "tough" spending decisions in 2015.

But she insisted the most vulnerable would be protected.

Read more.

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne suggests other parties attempts to paint the Conservatives as unreasonable means they fail to consider the real drivers of poverty and inequality.

She criticises the previous tax credit system introduced by Labour, saying it "allowed debt to spiral both for the individual and the government".

Responding to an intervention on the two child limit, Ms Ballantyne says this policy is about fairness.

She insists it is fair that people on benefits cannot have as many children as they like while families who don't claim benefits have to make decisions about the number of children they can have.

Image source, Getty Images

Universal credit has proved controversial almost from the beginning, with reports of IT issues, massive overspends and administrative problems.

It's being rolled out across the UK. But now concerns are being raised that 3.2 million working families will lose £48 a week - about £2,500 a year- compared with the old system.

The system has been made significantly less generous since it was announced.

Read more from the BBC Reality Check team here.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell says welfare reforms will significantly reduce the amount of social security available to people, with families with children most impacted.

She criticises Universal Credit in particular and urges the UK government to halt the roll-out.

"Austerity is far from over. It is hurting people hard and it is penalising them," the cabinet secretary says.

Ms Campbell goes on to highlight efforts by the Scottish government to support the worst off, such as free school meals and a carers allowance top-up.

Opening the debate, Labour MSP Elaine Smith says a report to be published tomorrow will highlight that little improvement has been made to Scotland's poverty levels in the last three years.

There is a growing gap between rich and poor not just in financial terms, but also regarding health she tells the chamber.

Ms Smith says council budgets have fallen in the last decade, while workforce numbers have also reduced.

She suggests this makes it difficult to provide the services families in poverty need.

We now have a "super-wealthy class" while at the same time one in four children are living in poverty, the Labour MSP says.

She concludes with a call for the redistribution of wealth and an end to austerity.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Labour begins its second debate of the afternoon, titled 'Ending Austerity, Poverty and Inequality'.

SNP MSP Alex Neil - who represents the constituency in which the Monklands Hospital is located - criticises the "stupid decision" to make Gartcosh the leading option for the new hospital.

He insists the consultation process has been "rigged" to suit health board managers, telling the chamber only one service user was involved in the options appraisal.

Mr Neil says NHS Lanarkshire is "not listening to the people"

It is time for an independent review of the process and information given which led to Gartcosh being labelled the preferred site, he insists.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says longer journey times is often a main concern raised by the public when considering any new development.

She speaks of the need to consider whether sites have room for development, and adds that public transport and other planning decisions must be taken into account.

Ms Johnstone confirms her party will back the Scottish government's amendment.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says hospitals will always evince strong emotions.

He suggests service redesign is "fundamentally flawed" because it often focused on what looks good on paper rather than what is right for people.

The Lib Dems will support Labour's motion, he concludes.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs highlights concerns that not enough consideration has been given to keeping the hospital in Airdrie.

It is vital that the the hospital is developed on the best site possible and has the support of the public, he says.

"I hope that NHS Lanarkshire will be listening closely to today's debate," Mr Briggs adds.

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey highlights that no final decision has been taken on the hospital by NHS Lanarkshire.

She says any decision must help to reduce health inequalities within the Monklands area and across Lanarkshire.

She points to stakeholder involvement in the options appraisal in June, after which the health board considered these.

Ms Haughey adds that the health board will rigorously evaluate all options before making a final decision, and the Scottish Health Council will report on the process.

Concerns around a Gartcosh site - currently considered the leading option by the health board - have been noted, she says.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says NHS Lanarkshire has undertaken a flawed process of consultation.

He says locals have not been meaningfully engaged and the health board has attempted to "railroad through" the closure of University Hospital Monklands.

People involved in an options appraised has been dominated by NHS Lanarkshire senior employees, Mr Leonard tells the chamber.

He says that if this consultation is within the guidelines set out by the Scottish government, the guidance is not worth the paper it is written on.

If it is not within the guidelines, the Scottish Labour leader urges the government to intervene.

Scottish Labour is attempting to put pressure on the Scottish government by forcing a vote at Holyrood on the site of a new Monklands Hospital.

A panel has recommended NHS Lanarkshire use a new location at Gartcosh.

But there is opposition to that proposal and Labour want the new hospital built at the current site.

The Scottish government has said consultation on the site for the new hospital is "ongoing" and should take in the views of patients.

Read more here.

Scottish Labour is leading a debate titled 'Keep the Monklands in Monklands', arguing that "a replacement hospital for the current University Hospital Monklands should be built in Monklands".