Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirms the existing Sick Kids' Hospital in Edinburgh will be inspected to ensure it is safe for the next year
The Scottish Tories led a debate on NHS infrastructure and health spokesperson Miles Briggs sought assurance other project would not be delayed
The public inquiry into the new hospital and QEUH in Glasgow was welcomed
Earlier, the Electoral Commission reiterates its call to test the question of a future independence referendum
Tory MSP Miles Briggs is leading a debate titled "Mismanagement of NHS Construction Projects".
It follows ongoing problems with the new Edinburgh sick kids' hospital and at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick says the charter of patient rights and responsibilities expects all patients to be treated fairly and equally, and will not be discriminated against.
Mr Harvie highlights long waits trans people face for hormone therapy, suggesting a small increase in resources would help.
The minister agrees these waits are unacceptable and confirms the gender reassignment protocol is being reviewed.
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie asks about action to improve healthcare for trans and non-binary people.
Alex waited 16 months to be seen for the first time at Scotland's biggest gender clinic
Transgender people are being put at greater risk of suicide and self-harm because of "unacceptably" long waits for specialist medical clinics in Scotland, according to campaigners.
The Scottish Trans Alliance (STA) said there was a desperate need for the NHS to invest in the services.
It said the health service needed to catch up with the rising number of adults seeking help.
Scotland has four adult gender identity clinics (GICs).
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says NHS Lanarkshire has established an oversight board.
The board will have its first session on 24 September, with a second on scheduled for October she confirms.
She says the is an "absolute commitment" to see a replacement built, which will include an A&E service.
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Elaine Smith calls for the hospital to be rebuilt where it is, "in the heart of the Monklands community".
Ms Freeman says one would need to demolish the current hospital to be able to rebuild it on the same site.
SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor asks for an update on NHS Lanarkshire's plans for a new-build Monklands Hospital, following the recommendations made by the independent review.
Image source, Getty ImagesMonklands Hospital is to be rebuilt in a new location, after the health secretary accepted an independent report into NHS plans for the site.
NHS Lanarkshire acted properly in a controversial consultation into a hospital replacement, the report found.
The health board faced opposition over its plans to move the hospital from Airdrie to Gartcosh.
A review panel recommended that both Gartcosh and Glenmavis be re-evaluated as new locations for the hospital.
Image source, Getty Images
John Swinney says the number of 'poor' and 'bad' schools is decreasing, before pointing out an investment programme to improve school estates.
Mr Tomkins says measurements of school estates have changed and suggests the government is "papering over the cracks".
The education secretary says individual schools may have changed classification due to a change in guidelines, as recommended by statisticians.
This only impacts a small number of schools, he tells the chamber.
Tory MSP Adam Tomkins seeks a response to reports that one in ten pupils are taught in substandard schools.
Image source, Getty ImagesMinisters have announced the Scottish schools which will be rebuilt or refurbished in the first phase of a £1bn investment programme.
A total of 26 schools in 11 council areas will be replaced under the strategy.
The announcement coincided with the publication of the latest statistics on the condition of Scotland's schools, external.
The figures from the school estate survey suggested that 88.3% of schools were described as being in "good" or "satisfactory" condition in April 2019, while 11.4% were classed as "poor" and 0.2% were termed "bad".
Education Secretary John Swinney says the government is committed to ensuring all pupils receive the support they need when they need it.
All schools have plans in place to review the additional support needs of their pupils, including carers, he adds.
Mr Whittle says a common theme following discussions with young carers is the patchy nature of support.
Mr Swinney says there are examples of "outstanding practice" across the country and some places where it will not be as strong as that.
As part of continuous professional development of teachers, they should be equipped with the knowledge to provide the extra care these pupils need he says.
Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks about action to ensure that schools and teachers understand and accommodate the needs of young carers.
Image source, Getty Images
After lunch, education and health ministers face a grilling at portfolio questions.
Then the Scottish Tories have to floor, splitting their debate time between health and justice.
The first will look at safety concerns at the new Edinburgh Sick Kids' Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (scheduled prior to the health secretary announcing an inquiry yesterday).
The second will focus on trust in criminal sentencing, calling for the abolition of automatic early release.
Tory MSP Miles Briggs will end the day with his member's debate on the Children's Hospice Across Scotland.
Mr Posner points out that the Scottish government's proposed question in 2014 was changed following the recommendation of the Electoral Commission.
The independence referendum has been held up as the gold standard, adds the Electoral Commission's representative, who asks why would you not want to have the next referendum as the gold standard too.
Mr Posner ponders why would you want to introduce risk by not testing it.
The evidence session draws to a close.
What would be the grounds for changing the question, Mr Macdonald asks.
We would follow the evidence, replies Dame Sue Bruce.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie says testing questions does not just involve the words but also understanding.
If culture factors had changed, that would be a reason to change the question he says.
Mr Harvie suggests it would "not be at all appropriate" to apply the words 'leave' or 'remain' to an independence referendum because they have become so linked with the EU referendum.
Dame Sue Bruce confirms this is the sort of thing that would be tested.
"We are reluctant to step into a space that is for you," says Mr Posner, gesturing towards the MSPs
He adds that if the advice from the Electoral Commission is not followed we would be disappointed and voters would have to make of it what they would.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald asks if the witnesses were satisfied the 2014 question was clear, concise and neutral, to which he receives the answer yes.
Mr Macdonald accepts the question in 2014 came from the Electoral Commission's recommendation to change it to: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Bob Posner says referendum questions should always be assessed.
Mr Tomkins says the current structure is that government proposes a question, the Electoral Commission consults on its intelligibility (though the recommendations are not binding) and the parliament enacts the question in primary legislation.
Is that the relationship you would like to see in this bill he asks.
Yes, comes the response.
Bob Posner says the parliament voting on the question as either primary or secondary legislation would be the parliament owning the process.
I'm not going to allow you to sit on that fence, replies Mr Tomkins.
Parliament cannot act on recommendations from the Commission if it comes in secondary legislation and that is a fundamental difference, he insists.
Bob Posner says if the parliament decided to do that we would have to live with that.
If it is a form of secondary legislation parliament cannot amend, you do not have to approve it, Mr Posner tells the committee.
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Alex Rowley says the Electoral Commission is saying its crucial to retest.
Dame Sue Bruce replies: "We would really want to emphasise that point.
"The provisions in the bill should require us to test the question."
She adds there should not be a caveat due to questions being previously put.
The integrity of the question must be tested and advice given, she says.
"All questions should be tested," Dame Sue concludes.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Adam Tomkins
Tory MSP Adam Tomkins refers to written evidence from the Electoral Commission calling for the bill to be amended to ensure testing of the question.
This is regardless of whether the question has been tested before and must it always be tested asks Mr Tomkins.
Dame Sue replies yes that is correct.
Bob Posner accepts the point about several polls using the 2014 question, adding any assessment would take this into account.
Labour MSP Alex Rowley seeks a response to Scottish ministers insisting there is no need to test it.
Andy O'Neill says contexts can change but we cannot know this until the question has been tested.
If we provide advice, campaigners can be given confidence and this can bring acceptance from the voters he adds.
Testing the question is important regardless of it being test five, six or even a hundred years ago Mr O'Neill states.
Mr Burnett asks about the testing process.
We have a standard testing procedure that normally takes up to 12 weeks, consulting with the public and taking advice from experts, replies Andy O'Neill.
There were over 450 responses for the independence referendum in 2014, he adds.
Mr O'Neill says the Electoral Commission will then supply a report to the Scottish Parliament and ministers.
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett turns discussion to the setting of the question for indyref2.
"We strongly believe the Commission should be asked to test the question," says Dame Sue Bruce.
This will ensure it is clear, transparent and neutral she insists.