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Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton extends a warm welcome to members of MND Scotland, Paul and Doreen Cheesemond and someone else to the gallery who is quite hard to miss.

Ms Hamilton is of course referring to Doddie Weir, whose courage she praises to the hilt.

She tells the chamber about his outstanding rugby career which began with him "running around like a giraffe" in the borders.

The Tory MSP tells the chamber Doddie has been instrumental in raising awareness about MND through his My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, external.

She praises the efforts of Paul and Doreen Cheesmond and outlines her own campaign calling for the automatic access to blue badges for people with MND.

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SNP MSP Alasdair Allan asks the first minister knows how much Tory welfare cuts are impacting on the poorest in our society.

The first minister cites a report saying the UK government cuts mean a loss of social security spending in Scotland of £500m a year, pushing thousands of families into poverty.

She calls on all MSPs to back the call for all welfare powers to come to Holyrood.

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Ms Sturgeon says the findings are "shocking" and a "major cause for concern".

She points to efforts to tackle deep-seated poverty and inequality, including the alcohol and drugs strategy, suicide prevention, and the new Scottish Child Payment.

We spent £1.4bn last year in direct support to the poorest households, she states.

Mr Stewart says a young persons life expectancy should not be a dependent on a postcode lottery.

The first minister highlights the Getting It Right For Every Child approach being taken by the Scottish government.

Labour MSP David Stewart asks what the government's response is to a new study, which suggests that young people in the poorest parts of the country are three times more likely to die before their 25th birthday than those in the most affluent areas.

People from the most deprived parts of Scotland are three times more likely to die before they are 25 than those from the least deprived, a study has found.

The research was carried out by Prof Morag Treanor, of Heriot-Watt University, for the charity Aberlour.

Prof Treanor said the results showed the "massive inequality" between rich and poor in Scotland.

It also showed young men and boys were far more likely to die before 25 than young women and girls.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack says given the Brexit uncertainty can the first minister confirm there will be a three year budget settlement for councils.

Ms Sturgeon commits to continue to give local authorities as much certainty as the Scottish government can, but points to the uncertainty swirling around the UK government at the moment

"The certainty most people want in Scotland is to see Brexit not happen at all," she adds.

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The first minister says the government has met COSLA’s request to provide £50,000 to each council to coordinate Brexit efforts.

We will continue to work closely with local government to prioritise and target interventions, she says.

Mr Simpson says £93m has come to Scotland for Brexit preparation from Barnett consequentials, £8m of which should have gone to councils he argues.

"We shouldn't be having to spend a single penny on Brexit preparations" because Scotland did not vote for it, Ms Sturgeon hits back.

The cost of Brexit will far exceed any consequentials we will receive or are likely to receive, she states.

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Tory MSP Graham Simpson asks how the Scottish government is helping councils to prepare for Brexit.

The SNP administration asked for further funding to cope with a possible no-deal Brexit.

It has requested £52m from a contingency fund to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

The UK government said money would be available where Scotland faces disproportionate costs.

Money from the EU Exit Operational Contingency Fund has been made available ahead of Britain's departure from the European Union on 31 October.

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The first minister replies that the government is monitoring events in the US, but to date there has been no deaths due to vaping in Europe.

Ms Sturgeon explains her government's precautionary approach with the strictest vaping regulations in Europe in place here in Scotland.

She says a complete ban on promotion of vaping products is being considered.

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SNP MSP Emma Harper asks, in light of recent deaths and respiratory illness attributed to vaping that has been reported in the US by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, what the Scottish government's position is on the sale and use of vaping products.

In the US, Michigan has become the first state to ban flavoured e-cigarettes, following the reports of deaths and lung illness. Those affected had an average age of 19.

However, doctors, public health experts and cancer charities in the UK agree that, based on current evidence, e-cigarettes carry a fraction of the risk of cigarettes.

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SNP MSP Maureen Watt cites a report calling for greater powers over immigration to be devolved.

The first minister agrees with that and welcomes the report from the David Hume Institute.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene urges the Scottish government to ensure public transport is accessible to everyone in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon agrees more needs to be done to ensure we have a truly accessible public transport system.

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Green MSP Mark Ruskell says there has been an increase in cyclist deaths on our streets and he asks what actions the Scottish government will take to improve road safety.

In June MSPs voted down his bill seeking to make 20mph the standard speed limit on residential streets in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon replies she understands how important this issue is and says the government will always consider any practical proposals brought forward.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley raises issues around ScotRail and a lack of carriages for the Fife Circle, at the same time as a 2.8% rise in fares.

The increases in fares have been lower than elsewhere in the UK she replies, insisting the government continues to hold ScotRail to account.

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SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks when the new commission on animal welfare will be up and running.

The first minister says she will ask the relevant minister to get these details to Ms Grahame shortly.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says violent crime is rising, asking when an anomaly becomes a trend.

Ms Sturgeon says looking at crime overall, it is down by 41% and at one of the lowest levels Scotland has seen.

SNP MSP Gil Paterson asks about support for former Thomas Cook employees.

We will do all we can to support staff by working with the UK government, replies Ms Sturgeon.

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"We cannot back a lack of ambition," says Ms Johnstone.

She points out Scotland missed its recent emissions target and the government continues its road expansion.

The funds should be for public transport instead, argues the Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader.

The first minister replies she will look for good ideas and inspiration wherever she can find it, but adds most countries are looking to Scotland for how to tackle climate change.

Ms Sturgeon says she genuinely struggles to understand how the Greens could sit on their hands yesterday and abstain from backing the Climate Change Bill.

Yesterday the Scottish government's targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions were strengthened, as MSPs voted to put down a "net-zero" target in law.

The Climate Change Bill - which aims to have all emissions offset by 2045 - was passed by 113 votes to 0 at Holyrood.

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Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone says her party has every confidence in the government's ability to set world-leading targets.

But it is less confident about the government's ability to actually meet those targets, she says.

Why are the targets set yesterday on the climate emergency any difference, Ms Johnstone asks?

Ms Sturgeon says she is proud of what the parliament achieved yesterday, saying they are the most ambitious and stringent climate change targets of anywhere in the world.

She says the Greens "sat on their hands" while the rest of the parliament did this.

Scotland is already ahead of most of the rest of the world in terms of reducing emissions, the first minister says.