12 noon: Iain Gray asks about Education Secretary Mike Russell's involvement in his constituency aid's blog. The FM replies that Mike Russell did not know. He says that there are bigger issues such as demise of Flyglobespan. He says Gray should focus on these things.
Gray says he is on record with support for Copenhagen talks. He says that FM cannot use Flyglobespan job losses to get in the way of the truth. He calls on Russell to tell Parliament that he did not know about the blog.
FM says Gray said that in his St Andrew's day speech that people should not focus on personality politics. He says he is contradicting himself.
Gray says that anonymous blogs pose a threat to politics. He asks if the FM ordered Russell to sack McLaughlin and whether Kevin Pringle drafted the resignation letter.
FM uses examples of Labour attack blogs. He condemns attack blogs and says the Labour party cannot pretend there has not been real Labour party involvement. Gray condemns attack blogs and asks the FM to release emails etc relating to McLaughlin and when he knew about it. The FM says he first knew when Mike Russell told him he was letting McLaughlin go.
FM brings up 'Burgergate' allegation of Gray's leadership race funds.
12.10pm Annabel Goldie goes on private healthcare paid for by NHS, giving the example of a man who had one hip replaced in this way but must now wait longer as the hospital has transferred back to 100% NHS.
The FM talks of Scotland's role at Copenhagen, as Goldie had referred to FM's failure to get photo taken with Arnie.
He then goes on to say that waiting times overall are falling and NHS should be within the public services.
Goldie says patients don't care who delivers the procedure, they just want relief. She asked what is being done to promote independent involvement. The FM said that the contract at the hospital in question was terminated by the private company, not the NHS.
12.15pm Tavish Scott asks about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cuts. The FM says that savings need to be made, but can be reinvested.
Scott says that consultants given bonuses last year now serve at private hospital. He asks for action.
The FM says that that bonus system was introduced by Lib-Lab. He said that £100m was spent on distinction awards by previous administration. FM also says that the Government is open to suggestions from the Lib Dems, as John Swinney demonstrated earlier in the week [by stating he would consider proposals for public sector 5% pay cut for top earners]
12.20pm Liam McArthur asks about fisheries negotiations. The FM says these have been a "mixed bag".
12.22pm Christine Grahame (SNP) asks how frontline services can be protected. The FM outlines staff increases during difficult times. Grahame asks what can be done to get money lost to Westminster in attendance allowance back. The FM says although there has been efforts to change this, but as yet there had been no success. He says £200m is about the estimated sum and says it would be great to get it back.
Jackie Baillie (Lab) says that BMA says that the Government has actually provided a cut to NHS spending. The FM says "only Jackie Baillie" could not welcome increased spending.
12.25pm Des McNulty (Lab) asks what will be done to help post probationer teachers find employment. The FM says a taskforce has been set up to look at this and a retirement scheme has been put in place.
Margaret Smith (LD) asks how class sizes can be delivered when slow progress has been made. She asks if discussion with COSLA will also look at teacher numbers. The FM says that they will and will also hopes to find a way forward.
12.30pm Murdo Fraser asks about plans for nuclear energy in the fight against emissions. The FM says renewables will be able to produce enough energy and reiterates opposition to nuclear.
Fraser says Ian Marchant, chair of Scottish Renewables, even believes nuclear will be necessary. The FM says that a nuclear disaster has a huge and lasting fallout. He says that money on nuclear would be money taken away from renewables. He says the biggest question is to remove the discrimination on fees for generators connecting to the grid, as these are higher in Scotland than in England.
