That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 18 September 2019.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed the existing Sick Kids' Hospital in Edinburgh will undergo further inspections to ensure it can continue operating safely for the next year.

The new facility was meant to begin accepting patients from July but its opening was delayed due to safety concerns with the ventilation system.

A public inquiry into what went wrong with the hospital was announced yesterday.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs - who was leading the debate - also urged ministers to confirm within the next week that no other NHS infrastructure projects would be delayed.

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Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick thanks the "amazing staff and volunteers" of CHAS for their work.

He earlier said CHAS fulfills a unique roll in supporting children with life-limiting conditions and the family and friends around them.

The charity keeps the joy alive for families when they are at their lowest, adds the public health minister.

Mr Fitzpatrick concludes saying CHAS work is a great example of health and social care integration in practice and he says he is grateful for their invaluable work.

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A two-year-old girl from West Lothian, who battled a rare form of childhood dementia, has died.

Mirryn Cunningham developed Batten disease, a chromosome disorder which left her unable to eat by herself, walk or see properly.

It occurs in five or six births every year in the UK and there is no cure.

"Miracle" Mirryn died in June at Rachel House in Kinross. Mum Vicky thanked the staff and vowed to keep raising money for CHAS. She believes the staff gave her more time with her daughter.

Read more about Mirryn.

Image source, Suttie Family

It was Father's Day 2016 when Jaclyn Suttie told husband Andrew he was going to become a dad.

Twins Jessica and Georgia were born at 32 weeks in Ninewells Hospital's neonatal unit.

Jessica, who was born weighing just 2lb 11oz, spent three months in the hospital. A week after Jessica was discharged from hospital, Andrew and Jaclyn received devastating news.

Jessica had Zellweger Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with no cure, and would probably not survive a year.

She was cared for at Rachel House, a hospice service run by Chas.

Read the Sutton family's story here.

Image source, CHAS

For over twenty years CHAS , externalhas been offering a full family support service for babies, children and young people with life shortening conditions.

This includes palliative and end of life care, family respite and support through two hospices in Balloch and Kinross, the CHAS at Home services and our teams in hospitals.

CHAS’ ambition is to reach every family in Scotland who needs us.

The charity says: “We all need to do much more to reach out to every family that needs our help and this theme of reaching every family is at the very core of everything we do.”

Tory MSP Miles Briggs praises the "world class" support provided by CHAS, adding: "We owe them a huge debt of gratitude."

In addition to the two hospices, he highlights CHAS also has staff placed within hospitals across Scotland.

Mr Briggs says the number of babies, children and young people living with life-shortening conditions in Scotland is 16,000 - and that number is increasing.

CHAS's 864 volunteers have donated 59,310 hours to support families he states.

The charity also supports the siblings of those who are suffering life-shortening conditions, he adds.

"On behalf of the whole Scottish Parliament: thank you," Mr Briggs concludes.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs is leading this evening's member's debate on CHAS.

Children's Hospice Across Scotland provides hospice care for babies, children and young people.

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MSPs agree to the government sentencing amendment, with 63 MSPs backing it, 28 against and 25 abstentions.

This means the Labour amendment falls, as it is preempted.

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The Conservative motion, as amended by the government, is agreed to with 82 MSPs backing to it, 28 against and six abstentions.

The Scottish government amendment on the NHS construction projects debate is agreed, with 87 voting for and 28 against.

The Labour amendment is unanimously agreed.

The Tory motion as amended is agreed with 87 votes for and 28 abstentions.

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Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says to put sentencing in perspective, it's an issue that can affect anyone of us at anytime in our lives, whether as victim, perpetrator or family member.

Ms Mitchell argues life sentence is a misleading term, it certainly does not mean the convicted perpetrator will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

The Tory MSP says this is bad complex and confusing sentencing policy, which should be scrapped and replaced with honesty in sentences which prioritise public safety.

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Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf says ending automatic early release for short term prisoners would add a catastrophic pressure on already pressured prisons.

It would add 3,500 prisoners at a considerable cost to the public purse, Mr Yousaf tells the chamber.

"There has to be - there must be - a better way of doing things," the justice secretary adds.

He points out the current complex system of sentencing was put in place by the UK government in the 1990s.

Discretion for the courts in sentencing is at the heart of Scotland's justice system, he adds.

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James Kelly, closing for Labour, stresses the importance of reintroducing throughcare for prisoners as soon as possible.

Mr Kelly says in terms of sentencing, its unfortunate people pick on individual cases and he defends the independence of the judiciary.

He regrets the Tories have brought forward a proposal that is not evidence based and instead chases headlines.

Scottish judges are laying out for the first time the way in which court sentences are reached in a bid to "demystify the process".

In the first public consultation of its kind, external, the Scottish Sentencing Council will reveal how judges make their decisions and ask if the public agrees.

The aim is to remove the perception that sentencing is inconsistent.

The guidelines list aggravating factors which could lengthen a sentence and must be taken into account.

Read more.

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An extension of the presumption against short sentences handed out in Scottish courts been signed off by MSPs.

Since 2011, judges have been instructed not to impose a prison sentence of three months or less, unless no other punishment is deemed "appropriate".

Holyrood has now voted by 83 to 26 to extending this presumption to sentences of 12 months or less.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said community sentences were "much more effective" for rehabilitation.

The Scottish Conservatives opposed the move when it was discussed by the justice committee, and did so again in the final vote - with the party's Liam Kerr claiming that the government was "taking a risk with the safety of the public".

Read more.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says prisons are overcrowded, underfunded and rapidly reaching breaking pointing.

We have a higher proportion of lifers than anywhere else in Europe, he states.

What in all of this suggests to the Tories a need for higher levels of detention, Mr McArthur asks.

The Tories call for "honesty in sentencing" is "nothing of the sort" he argues, adding it would also be ineffective and counterproductive.

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More needs to be done to "demystify" the justice system for the public, the body that advises judges and sheriffs on sentencing has said.

Research for the Scottish Sentencing Council found most respondents thought the system was fair but 56% said sentences were too soft.

A majority of people said they felt public protection was the most important purpose of sentencing.

The council said work was being done to improve public understanding.

Read more.

Green MSP John Finnie says: "Increasingly I find Mr Kerr's views distasteful."

Mr Finnie warns that shaping our views around exceptional events rather than the norm will lead to some difficulty.

"I have confidence in our judiciary to ensure that the public are protected from individuals who would pose a threat to them," he tells the chamber.

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The former senior policeman calls for proper funding for alternative sentences.

He also calls for the reinstatement of the throughcare of the Scottish Prison Service, citing an increasing violence against prison staff.

"What we don't need to do, Mr Kerr, is put more people in prison, what we need to do is find robust alternatives to that."

Labour MSP James Kelly says any change in policy must be based on evidence and after good discussion which has not yet happened.

He agrees there needs to be more transparency about sentencing decisions, suggesting the Sentencing Council should have a role in this.

Specifically he says it is disappointing the Council has only brought forward one set of guidance around sexual offences in three years, suggesting work must be much faster.

The Scottish Tories are not acknowledging the circumstances that lead to people committing crimes, such as welfare reforms pushing people into poverty, Mr Kelly states.

He confirms his party will oppose the Tory motion at decision time.

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