Ms Freeman says Professor White has written to 400 parents to hear directly on them on their experience of communication of the board.

The health secretary says a Health Protection Scotland report showed the current levels of infection are returning to normal.

She says the focus has been on infections associated with water and the environment.

Ms Freeman thanks Labour MSP Anas Sarwar for bringing reports on the issue to her attention, some of which were privately commissioned by the board but not brought to the attention of the government.

Ms Freeman offers her apologies to the parents who have lost children and other parents for any anxiety they have faced.

The oversight board was set up after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was increased to stage 4 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework, she says.

This oversight board involves three groups:

• infection, prevent and control
• communication and engagement (which involves family representatives)
• technical issues

The head of Scotland's largest health board has moved to reassure parents as it emerged a child died last week after contracting a hospital infection.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde insists the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow is safe. It said the death was not related to any previous cases.

Chief executive Jane Grant said the hospital was committed to the safety and quality of care for children.

She said infection rates were currently in line with other paediatric units.

The Herald newspaper reported, external on Sunday that the child, who died on Monday 25 November, had a hospital-acquired infection and had been moved between wards at the site.

NHGGC confirmed that a child had died, saying the issue was being appropriately managed and Health Protection Scotland had been informed.

• Warning of 'high risk' to water supply at Glasgow hospital
• Glasgow health board placed in 'special measures'
• Timeline: The trials of Scotland's super hospital
• 'Milly would be here' had Glasgow hospital followed advice
• Mother of hospital death boy: 'I've been ignored'
• Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will now make a statement updating MSPs on the oversight of the QEUH board.

Image source, bbc

Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes says the government is committed to supporting small businesses through things like the Small Business Bonus Scheme, in what she says is the most generous rates relief scheme in the UK.

Mr Lyle says opposition parties have voted to remove the scheme.

Ms Forbes agrees Labour, the Tories and the Greens have voted to effectively abolish the Small Business Bonus Scheme, by backing an amendment at Stage Two to the Non-Domestic Rates Bill.

She says the government is concerned many stakeholders no longer believe the bill as amended is supporting growth and fairness as it stands, but welcomes future scrutiny.

There has been a row over an amendment from Green MSP Andy Wightman to the Non-Domestic Rates Bill, which would effectively devolve the setting of business rates to local authorities.

The amendment, backed by opposition parties at Stage 2 last week, means the scrapping of the rates relief scheme, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks what the government is doing to support small businesses.

Tory MSP Liz Smith says there have been several discussions about public expenditure at the SQA and asks the cabinet secretary if he agrees there has been issues around transparency.

"There should be transparency on these issues," agrees Mr Swinney.

Education Secretary John Swinney says the SQA must ensure travel and subsistence policies deliver best value for money.

The SQA has recently completed a review of its policies and aligned it more closely to other public sector bodies, he adds.

Mr Harvie says there needs to be a culture change in the SQA and any other bodies treating themselves to luxury at the public expense. He also expresses concern about leaders in Saudi Arabia benefiting.

Mr Swinney says he will be meeting the chief executive of the SQA tomorrow and will raise issues mentioned by Mr Harvie with her.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie asks for the government's response is to recent reports on spending practices at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says NHS Lothian told him the ventilation systems have also been reviewed in terms of national guidance and asks about the new guidance issued.

The health secretary says the new national guidelines do not apply to existing sites and says she is seeking to find out from the board what upgrades are required at the Sciennes site.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks if it is acceptable £1.4m is being spent a month on a private consortium for a hospital that is still unsafe and unusable in Little France.

That money is part of the contract and is the responsibility of NHS Lothian, Ms Freeman explains.

She says the public inquiry will show where accountability lies and she shares Ms Lennon's frustration the new hospital can't be used, but she won't tell the board to break a legal contract.

Ms Freeman says £7.2m has been set aside for the cost of maintaining and improving the site.

Ventilation systems in the existing hospital have been reviewed in line with national guidelines and some upgrading work may be needed because they will be used longer than planned, she adds.

Mr Johnson says two hospitals are, by the government's own definition, substandard.

The health secretary reiterates it is important to ensure the replacement site is safe before staff can move to it.

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the £700,000 refers to backlog maintenance to improve various aspects of the hospital at Sciennes.

The Scottish government's oversight board continues to ensure high quality safe services continue, Ms Freeman adds.

Mr Johnson says he didn't need an FOI to highlight overdue maintenance at the hospital as when his daughter was treated there, her treatment was delayed due to a ceiling collapse in a meeting room.

The Labour MSP says a total of £1.5m of maintenance is needed and he asks for details of any defects at the hospital, particularly in terms of ventilation.

Image source, bbc

The Scotsman reported on Friday that Edinburgh's existing Sick Kids Hospital needs £700,000 of 'significant' maintenance.

It said the current Sick Kids Hospital in Sciennes is due to close next autumn when patients and staff are scheduled to move to the new Building at Little France.

Children are still being treated there after the move to the new building was called off in the summer.

A list of items needing attention, released by NHS Lothian under freedom of information, includes work on the ventilation and fire alarm systems.

Read more of the Scotsman's report here., external

We begin topical questions, with Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asking the Scottish government what action it is taking to ensure the Royal Hospital for Sick Children is fit for purpose, following reports the existing building needs over £700,000 of maintenance work.

Image source, bbc

Reverend Kenny Gillies from the Livingston Elim Pentecostal Church delivers today's time for reflection.

Image source, bbc/Pa/Getty images

We begin this afternoon with topical questions.

Welcome to BBC Scotland Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 10 December 2019, just two days before the general election.

However business continues apace in the chamber, so here's what we're covering today:

2.05pm: Topical questions

2.20-2.50 pm: Ministerial Statement: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Image source, Getty images

2.50-3.20 pm: Ministerial Statement: Performance in Scottish education– the PISA 2018 Results and Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Level 2018/19 Statistics

3.20-5.00 pm: Scottish Government Debate: Reaffirming Scotland’s Support for Human Rights Defenders

5.05 pm: Members’ Business: James Dornan – Easing the Burden and Pain of Miscarriage