Summary

  • Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross asks Nicola Sturgeon to support his proposals to tackle Scotland's drug addiction problems

  • The first minister agrees "speed of action is necessary" and will consider his Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill proposal

  • Ms Sturgeon adds that while there might be "common ground", she cannot commit to voting and backing a bill that she has not yet seen

  • Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar calls on the FM to "take responsibility for the growing scandal" over infections at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

  • Ms Sturgeon responds by saying that there is an ongoing independent inquiry and separately a police investigation

  • On the pandemic, covid cases are falling but the Scottish government has announced a £300m funding package to help health services get through the "extremely challenging" winter ahead

  • High energy costs are forcing manufacturers to warn of higher prices for their goods as they pass on cost increases to consumers

  1. WATCH: Highlights from First Minister's Questionspublished at 13:04 BST 7 October 2021

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  2. Tory call for dedicated family violence courtspublished at 13:01 BST 7 October 2021

    womanImage source, Getty Images

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs calls for the introduction of family violence courts dedicated to the issue of domestic abuse.

    The Lothians MSP highlights Crown Office data that shows on average there are 91 incidents of domestic abuse every day in Scotland.

    Nicola Sturgeon said the figures were “deeply troubling” and added it was “important the justice system responds appropriately.”

  3. Lib Dems - People with Long Covid 'better off moving to England'published at 12:51 BST 7 October 2021

    Alex Cole-HamiltonImage source, Getty Images

    Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton asks about the 79,000 people in Scotland now believed to be living with Long Covid, calling it potentially the worst mass disabling event since World War Two.

    He says he has warned before that people with the condition are better off moving to England for treatment and asks if the FM will meet the Long Covid Scotland group.

    Ms Sturgeon says she believes the health secretary has met the group and acknowledges it is a serious condition that we will be "living with for a long time".

    She says there are 16 commitments in the Scottish government's Long Covid strategy and that there is nothing to stop health boards establishing specialist provision now.

  4. Police sexism tribunal verdict 'troubling' says Sturgeonpublished at 12:45 BST 7 October 2021

    Rhona Malone

    Nicola Sturgeon says she was "troubled" by an employment tribunal ruling that found evidence of a sexist "boys' club" culture in a Police Scotland armed response unit.

    The first minister pays tribute to the "bravery" of ex-firearms officer Rhona Malone who brought the case.

    She said: "The findings paint a picture that should trouble all of us. It’s important not to assume it is an isolated incident and the findings of this tribunal must be taken seriously."

    Labour MSP Daniel Johnson, who asked the question, said he was concerned Ms Malone's experience of sexism in the police was "not unique".

  5. Tories to propose Bill to ensure more support for people with drug problemspublished at 12:43 BST 7 October 2021

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  6. 'Own this crisis and get a grip of this rotten health board' - Labourpublished at 12:41 BST 7 October 2021

    Anas Sarwar says that there must come a point where it is the State, not whistleblowers, families and campaigners that find the answers.

    He asks what it will take for Nicola Sturgeon to "take responsibility, own this crisis and get a grip of this rotten health board".

    Ms Sturgeon updates on the status of the second child's family, saying she believes the health board has still not located them, but "not for the want of trying".

  7. Labour asks why it was up to families and whistleblowers to 'take on the system'published at 12:37 BST 7 October 2021

    Milly Main died after contracting an infection
    Image caption,

    Milly Main died after contracting an infection at the QEUH in Glasgow

    Anas Sarwar comes back, saying that it was families, whistleblowers and campaigners who had to take on the system "to get answers" and says at the heart of the issue is grieving families.

    He asks for an update on progress to contact the second family. He says it is not acceptable that the second family has been "kept in the dark". He says criminal investigations should have been launched into both deaths.

    Nicola Sturgeon comes back with "the greatest sympathy and respect" for whistleblowers.

    She reiterates that it was the government that ordered the public inquiry and says it is up to the police and Crown Office to decide on which cases will be investigated.

    She says again she does not want to prejudice the current inquiry by commenting.

  8. Sarwar: Why was second child's death at super hospital not reported for investigation?published at 12:30 BST 7 October 2021

    Anas SarwarImage source, Getty Images

    Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar once again focuses on the Scottish hospitals scandal.

    He mentions the criminal investigation which was last week started into the death of Milly Main.

    He says that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had to ask him to provide the details of a second child who died within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus because they did not know of them.

    He asks why that child's death was not reported for investigation.

    The first minister says that she doesn't accept the review is discredited. She says the inquiry will take its course and is completely independent.

    She says it is not "right, appropriate or helpful for the families concerned" for her to comment on the detail of any of the cases involved.

    Quote Message

    I want to leave no one in any doubt about how seriously I, and the government take these issues and how determined we are to get to the answers and get to the truth.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  9. Tory leader and FM agree to visit area blighted by drug abusepublished at 12:24 BST 7 October 2021

    Nicola Sturgeon accepts a call from Douglas Ross to visit Haghill in Glasgow, an area blighted by drug abuse problems.

    Tory leader Douglas Ross says it is important to “listen to those in the frontline” dealing with drug abuse problems.

    The first minister says her office would be in touch with Mr Ross to make arrangements but added that wider issues would need to be considered in any such visit.

    She said it was “also important to meet those who have just had their universal credit withdrawn, and driving them into the poverty.”

  10. Background: Scotland's drug deaths rise to new recordpublished at 12:19 BST 7 October 2021

    syringesImage source, Getty Images

    Recent figures showed that more than 1,200 people in Scotland died of drug misuse last year.

    The much-delayed figures show a record number of deaths for the sixth year in a row and the highest total since records began in 1996.

    The figure of 1,264 is a 6% increase on 2018 and more than double the number of deaths in 2014.

    It is the worst rate recorded in Europe and about three and a half times the rate for England and Wales.

    The National Records of Scotland , externalstatistics are six months late after a huge backlog in processing toxicology results and delays due to Covid-19.

    Read more

  11. Tories challenges FM to give drug addicts a treatment guaranteepublished at 12:16 BST 7 October 2021

    Douglas Ross calls on Nicola Sturgeon to back his plans for a new law on drug treatment.

    The Scottish Conservative leader describes the number of lives lost to drug abuse as "a national shame".

    Nicola Sturgeon says she has an "open mind" on the proposals but added that "speed of action is now essential, we all know legislation takes time."

    Quote Message

    The longer we wait, the longer we fail to act, the more lives will be lost."

    Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader

  12. What's on the agenda?published at 12:01 BST 7 October 2021

    vaccine passportImage source, Rex Features

    Nicola Sturgeon could face more questions about Scotland's vaccine certification scheme.

    Earlier this week she apologised for the botched introduction of the country's vaccine passport app.

    Some people were unable to access their records through the app, leading to several venues not asking for proof of vaccination over the weekend.

    The NHS could also feature, after the Scottish government announced its £300m funding package to help the health services get through what's expected to be an "extremely challenging" winter ahead.

    Opposition parties claimed the plans were a "sticking plaster" for a health service facing crisis.

    And the Supreme Court ruling against the Scottish government which said that two bills passed by MSPs were beyond Holyrood's powers could also give opposition ammunition.

    We'll bring you all the opposition leaders' questions and the best of the backbenchers.

  13. Welcome to First Minister's Questionspublished at 11:56 BST 7 October 2021

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, Getty Images

    Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Scotland's live coverage of First Minister's Questions.

    As ever you can watch or listen to the weekly questions session from 12pm right here with us.

    We'll bring you reports, analysis and reaction.