That's all from BBC Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 28 January 2020.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be given "one final chance" after an infections scandal at its flagship hospital campus.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said experts will review about 80 cases where children may have contracted infections at the Royal Hospital for Children (RCH) in Glasgow.

She also announced two paediatric cancer wards at the RCH that closed in 2018 will not reopen till this summer at the earliest.

Ms Freeman, who recently escalated action against NHS bosses at the Glasgow health board, said she had not ruled out taking the health board to level five - meaning it would be deemed to be "unable to deliver effective care" and requiring ministerial intervention.

Image source, bbc

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop extends her condolences to Alasdair Gray's friends and family.

Ms Hyslop says: "The title for this debate today, 'Alasdair Gray a Creative Force', is apt for this force of nature."

He was a towering figure in Scottish literature and art, she points out, citing Lanark as a towering work of world fiction.

The minister pledges to meet with Sandra White and other interested parties to discuss suggested ideas in tribute to him.

Image source, Getty Images

Renowned Scottish author and artist Alasdair Gray died in December, his publisher confirmed.

The 85-year-old was known for novels such as Lanark (1981) and the award-winning Poor Things (1992), which are both set in Glasgow where he was born.

His public murals are visible across the city, with further pieces on display in the V&A and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

His family said he wanted to leave his body to science so there would be no funeral.

• Read more here
• Unseen Alasdair Gray mural unveiled
• Writer seriously injured in fall

Adam Tomkins says he may be the only person Alasdair Gray ever co-wrote a book with.

The fact that person became a Tory MSP shocked Alasdair even more than it shocked me, explains Mr Tomkins.

He says the book was "How We Should Rule Ourselves" and it worked because of creative tension.

Alasdair wanted to write with him because he didn't believe in independence explains Mr Tomkins.

His great abiding memory of Alasdair is of a "great sense of fun and unbridled mischief".

Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

Image source, bbc

I've been lucky enough to know Alasdair Gray since I was a student at Glasgow University in the 1980s.

My Honours dissertation was on his work, including the then recently published Lanark, which had cast a spotlight on someone who, despite being a polymath, from the humblest of backgrounds was never comfortable talking about himself.

Do you see yourself as a Scottish writer or a London writer?, asked a reporter from the London-based arts programme Monitor in 1983.

Was Dickens asked to describe himself as an English writer or a London writer? That question, sir, was unworthy of you, replies Alasdair Gray, with a grin.

But he goes on to answer it. "I would claim to be everything I might be suspected of. Glaswegian, Scottish, British, I'm everything."

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Click here for a portrait of writer, artist, irascible interviewee and controversial essayist Alasdair Gray. The film shows him creating work that has become part of Scotland's living heritage.

• The liberation of Lanark
• Jenny Brownriggs picks seven of her favourite Gray pieces
• Writing Scotland: Alasdair Gray biography

SNP MSP Sandra White says it is difficult to fit the life works of Alasdair Gray into a few minutes but she will do her best.

"Radical or rascal? Perhaps he was a bit of both."

Culture, especially literature and art, offer building blocks with which to forge a nation Ms White says.

She calls for support to be provided to the Alasdair Gray archive.

Image source, PA Media

SNP MSP Sandra White leads a member's debate paying respects to the late Scottish author and artist Alasdair Gray, who died in December.

Image source, bbc

Join us here for extensive coverage of the European flag debate tomorrow from 1.30pm.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs have voted in favour of the business motion. 62 MSPs backed it, 30 voted against and 17 abstained.

The debate over the European flag outside of Holyrood will go ahead tomorrow at 1:30pm.

MSPs also agreed to make Thursday's debate on alcohol and drug misuse 30 minutes longer.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says he is a strong pro-European but adds he respects the decision of the SPCB.

Mr Rennie lambastes the Scottish government for finding time to debate flags but not education or Scotland's police service.

Mr Golden agrees and calls on MSPs to vote against the business motion.

Parliamentary Business Manager Graeme Dey says none of the parties would want to be in this position.

He argues compromise has been sought after the decision to take down the flag was made by the SPCB, telling the chamber he suggested keeping the European flag flying during the Brexit transition period.

It is surely right that the parliament as a whole make this decision, the minister argues.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden rises to speak against the business motion which would enable MSPs to debate the EU flag being taken down. He highlights the number of debates the parliament must get through by June.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says priority in debating time should be given to topics like the health service and schools, but she welcomes the intention to extend Thursday's debate on drugs and alcohol. She says Labour will abstain on the business motion.

Mr Golden says a statement on "crumbling police stations" has been ruled out in order to make time for the EU flag debate.

Image source, Getty Images

Tomorrow MSPs will debate whether to keep the European flag flying at the parliament during the Brexit transition period, despite the proposal having been rejected by the SPCB.

The Scottish government motion points out the UK will still be in the Council of Europe post-Brexit and "directs" the parliamentary authorities to keep flying the European flag.

It was agreed by the SPCB earlier this month it would be lowered at 23:00 on 31 January, at the moment the UK officially leaves the EU.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said there was a clear desire from all members of the SPCB that the flag flying policy should not become a political issue for debate.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles raises a point of order unprecedented to vote to direct the corporate body to vote on something it has already decided not to do.

Mr Rumbles points out only two members will speak in the debate on the business motion about continuing to fly the European flag after Brexit on Friday.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says the key point here is there will be time tomorrow for people to speak in the debate.