Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks about work on assessing whether local authorities have the staff and resources to ensure enforcement action where there are safety concerns.

I'm not aware of any difficulties local authorities have had with any request made by government since Grenfell, the minister says.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson says there must be a "total ban" on combustible materials used on the outside of buildings.

Mr Stewart says the independent panel is looking at this and the key thing is to ensure the right testing is done.

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Housing Secretary Kevin Stewart replies he is relieved there was no loss of life in Bolton.

Student accommodation is classed as relevant premises meaning landlords have responsibility for fire safety risk assessments, he adds.

Mr Wightman asks for confirmation the fire risk assessments are available to the residents of buildings.

Mr Stewart says he cannot answer that at this moment, but he will write to him and adds any lessons learned from Bolton will be reviewed and any appropriate action will be taken.

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Students and student bodies are concerned about what happened in Bolton, says Mr Wightman and he calls for reassurance about the cladding on their buildings

Mr Stewart pledges to answer the concerns of students alongside the community safety minister.

The housing minister tells the committee that as and when the necessary analysis is made available, the government will act to improve safety.

Green MSP Andy Wightman asks what fire safety checks have been undertaken on the building cladding used in private student accommodation, including for high-pressure laminate cladding.

Image source, GMFRS

Cladding on a block of student flats that was hit by a major blaze is a cause for "concern", Greater Manchester's mayor has said.

Two people were hurt when about 100 residents fled The Cube in Bolton after a blaze on Friday.

At its height about 200 firefighters from 40 fire engines were tackling the blaze which was affecting every floor.

A witness said the fire was "climbing up" the six-storey building. One person was rescued by crews using an aerial platform.

Read more.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar asks the cabinet secretary to endorse all ten recommendations made in the CPG report, particularly on upskilling staff and using existing technology.

Ms Freeman says she is happy to endorse all the recommendations.

We have invested in radiotherapy equipment and we are redesigning the service pathway to upskill clinicians to take on new roles, she adds.

Mr Greene says the CPG report concluded workforce issues were the greatest concern for diagnostics and he asks about action to ensure the adequate staffing on radiology and oncology departments now, not just in the future.

He also seek a date for when the waiting times target will be met.

Ms Freeman directs the member to the waiting times action plan.

The integrated national workforce plan will be published before December recess, she confirms.

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Mr Greene says there is much more to do and argues consecutive health secretaries have been repeatedly warned about workforce planning issues in radiology.

He asks why has such little progress been made.

The health secretary replies it is a good job the government listens better than Mr Greene does, arguing she has answered all these questions already.

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Health Secretary Jeane Freeman cites funding of £1.6m for radiotherapy training and staffing to date, leading to increased numbers of patients accessing radiotherapy.

Ms Freeman also says there has been an increase in radiology consultants of 45% since September 2006.

The health secretary says a further 70 additional training places in radiology and oncology will be put in place.

She highlights 95% of patients rate their cancer care favourably.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene seeks a response to to reports that NHS staff shortages are putting cancer survival rates at risk.

Image source, Getty Images

Progress on treating cancer has stalled in Scotland because of staff shortages and a lack of funding, according to a parliamentary report.

The Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Cancer found that 18% of cancer patients in June were not seen within the six-week target.

Their report, which will be published later, has been described as "deeply concerning" by Cancer Research UK.

The Scottish government said its £100m strategy would improve survival rates.

Read more.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie asks what the last date the Scottish government can make a decision on when to attempt to bring forward a budget without a UK one is.

The finance secretary tells the chamber that if the UK budget runs late it is not impossible for the Scottish budget to proceed first - but he warns this will come with the risk of "trying to second guess" the UK government.

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Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says councils need to set their budgets and council tax.

Ms Grant asks when the minister will share scenario plans with the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Mackay replies he is engaging with the finance committee on a timetable.

There is no mechanism to allow a rollover from one year to the next, he points out.

If we don't pass a Scottish rate resolution we raise no income tax, which would be catastrophic for Scotland, the finance secretary explains.

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart says there is a "hint of hypocrisy" about the SNP complaining about the delay to the budget since they also backed a general election.

He points to analysis from the Fraser of Allander Institute which suggests Scottish income tax levels are predicted to "disappoint" compared to the rest of the UK.

Mr Mackay suggests Tory income tax proposals would have cut taxes for the richest and made less money available for public services.

He says "we are where we are" in terms of the general election and again calls on the next UK government to bring forward a budget as soon as possible.

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Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says the general election has forced plans to publish the Scottish budget on 12 December 2019 to be postponed.

Mr Mackay says the 20/21 Scottish budget will now not be published before Christmas.

Mr Crawford says the Scottish government will not know how much money it will have to spend in 2021.

The finance secretary agrees that the government does not have that knowledge and without the UK budget and OBR predictions it cannot have it.

He tells the chamber he has called on the Treasury to have the budget as quickly as possible after the election, but has not received a reply from the UK ministers.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford asks about the implications of the general election and postponement of the UK Budget on the Scottish Budget.

Image source, PA

The Scottish government has confirmed its budget for next year will now not be published until after Christmas.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay had been due to outline his annual spending and taxation plans on 12 December - the same day as the general election.

Mr Mackay said a new date would be agreed with the Scottish Parliament's finance committee as soon as possible.

But he said it should not happen until after the UK government unveiled its own budget.

Read more.

Mr George Innes of the Gideons is delivering today's time for reflection.

Image source, Getty Images

After topical questions on the budget, NHS staff shortages and private student accommodation fire safety, there will be a statement on International Year of Plant Health 2020.

Then MSPs debate sea fisheries and end year negotiations with the EU.

Finally, SNP MSP Stuart McMillan will lead a debate to mark road safety week.

Image source, KIMBERLY DARROCH

NEWS SUMMARY:

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has told MSPs a public inquiry into two Scottish hospitals will investigate issues around water contamination as part of its remit.

Last week the mother of ten-year-old Milly Main, who died after contracting an infection at Glasgow's children's hospital, said she believed it had come from bacteria in the water supply.

The health board says the water supply was not tested at the time Milly died.

Ms Freeman told MSPs she expected to be able to announce who would lead a public inquiry into problems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and also Edinburgh's sick children's hospital before Christmas, but she said it was not yet possible to say how long it would take.

Kimberly Darroch gave details of her daughter Milly's case after it was highlighted in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, prompting calls for the resignation of the health secretary.

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The witnesses told the committee it has been a privilege to take part in this primary care inquiry and thank MSPs for the opportunity.

Committee convener Lewis Macdonald reciprocated, thanking all the witnesses for their participation.

Martin Misovic said education at the very beginning would help, suggesting introducing self-care tips at primary school could be useful.

Mr Whittle agreed and suggested even pre-school level would be a useful place to begin things like nutritional education.

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George Burton told the committee that when he moved to Scotland he found signing up to a new GP challenging to say the least.

Mr Burton also highlighted the difficulties in getting an appointment.

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Hugh Dunn asked the committee why we don't have information technology.

Mr Dunn called for all the city networks to be linked up into a national grid.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle said the problem is not technology, rather how we train our frontline staff in how to use that technology.