As-it-happened: First Minister's Questions

Hello and welcome to our weekly video and text coverage of First Minister's Questions. Alex Salmond is due to get to his feet at about 12 noon.

General questions to Scottish ministers is taking place ahead of FMQs.

"Substantial interest here at Holyrood anent Alex Salmond's thoughts on the regulation of the press, the day the Leveson report is published. You'll recall that Lord Leveson was asked in June last year to conduct an investigation into the press and related matters following the newspaper phone hacking scandal..... read more from my blog."

There may be a bit of a row over the £470,000 cost of the Scottish government Ryder Cup delegation.

If you don't already know, this is Leveson day, when Lord Justice Brian Leveson publishes his report into press ethics and standards. The judge will make a statement at about 13:30 on his 2,000-plus document. Remember, First Minister Alex Salmond gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry.

And FMQs begins.... Johann Lamont, Labour leader, begins her questioning.

First Minister Alex Salmond (FM) says he'll be reading the Leveson report "with great interest".

Ms Lamont goes on to talk about the Leveson Inquiry. She says there has to be change. But we need also to "protect press freedom", she adds. "Can I ask when did he [FM] last complain to a newspaper about its coverage?" Ms Lamont asks.

Mr Salmond was asked when he last complained about newspaper coverage

The FM says he'll "check the record" to see if he can answer Ms Lamont's question. He adds that he can expect the report to take serious view on the issue of the press. He says he doesn't support state press regulation. Mr Salmond has suggested the Irish model as a way forward.

Mr Salmond says Holyrood will hopefully be debating the Leveson report next week. He also wants cross-party agreement on the way ahead and announced an implementation group chaired by a current or recent Court of Session judge.

Ms Lamont responds by saying there is a "great deal in that". She says she notes "he did not answer my question". She says the FM is the only leader of a mainstream political party to meet with media man Rupert Murdoch since the "stomach churning" revelation that one of his papers hacked murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler's phone.

To follow all aspects of the Leveson Inquiry report, go to our dedicated live page.

FM says he wants all Holyrood parties to "rise to the occasion" and find a way forward, arguing that this looks unlikely at Westminster, where Prime Minister David Cameron and deputy Nick Clegg are making separate statements on the Leveson report.

Ms Lamont says he should apologise for meeting Mr Murdoch.

The FM says he refers to the Irish press complaints system because the Ombudsman is not appointed by ministers.

Mr Salmond also says it's reassuring that as soon as authorities such as the police in Scotland had information on criminal abuses like phone hacking, action was taken.

The FM says he wouldn't be inviting Johann Lamont and other opposition leaders to all-party talks if he didn't want to reach all-party agreement.

Johann Lamont called for political consensus on press regulation

Ms Lamont says he knows that the whole Leveson process has been an attempt to regulate and improve the press in the eyes of the public. This cannot be a debate about politicians talking about "our relationship" with the press, but a deeper understanding of how ordinary people see the issue. Can he commit himself to a consensus throughout the country and if there are all-party talks, will he be bound by those talks, Ms Lamont asks?

The Tory's Ruth Davidson welcomes the opportunity to meet the FM on the Leveson matter.

Ruth Davidson quizzed the first minister on bank nursing staff

Ms Davidson goes on to the NHS. She says there are 2,000 fewer nurses in Scotland than when this "man came to power". She asks how much has the government has been spending on bank nursing staff?

FM says he'll get the precise figures sent to Ruth Davidson. Mr Salmond says staff numbers in the NHS have gone up since the SNP came to power and Ms Davidson will want to congratulate the "extraordinary performance" by health service staff.

Ms Davidson says £94.5m was spent on bank nursing staff this year, £4m on the last, she adds that that is the equivalent of an increase of 160,000 bank nursing hours. Why is this the case, she asks?

The FM says Ruth Davidson shouldn't confuse "agency" and "bank" nurses. Mr Salmond says the annual report of NHS Scotland has seen great achievements in areas like cutting waiting times and hospital infections.

Patricia Ferguson asks about Remploy in Springburn and the impending redundancies there. Would his government have a support scheme for workers or take in house the manufacture of the wheelchairs they make?

@ is actually quite pleased with the way this week's #fmq is going, he sends this Tweet: "This week's #FMQ session infinitely better than last week. Actual policy stuff, and attempts to get answers to questions."

FM supports calls for an investigation into Remploy factory closures, which include Springburn in Glasgow, and points out the issue is being debated by parliament later today.

Neil Findlay on the children's ward at St John's Hospital in Livingston. This is under threat again, he adds. Will the Health Secretary step in and help?

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie turns back to Leveson.

Responding to Neil Findlay's question about St John's Hospital's children's ward, the first minister says the government has already made it clear to NHS bosses in Scotland that services for children should be delivered.

After Willie Rennie raised the Leveson issue again, the FM complains that he wasn't given prior access to the Leveson report. Both David Cameron and Nick Clegg had the report yeasterday morning.

On the issue of the new national police force, Mr Rennie says the new chief constable and the new police chair were sitting side by side, but in opposition. Did he choose the right people, he asks?

FM describes issues in the creation of the new Scottish police service as "creative tension".

Mr Rennie says it is barely 100 days since Royal Assent on this act and already there is "turmoil". Who is taking the decisions about the future of staff?

FM says those involved in the creation of the new national police force will be resolved.

Nigel Don on local government. What structural changes will come?

The FM says there's no plans to change the structure of local government, but changes are being made to ensure vital services can be delivered.

Labour's Sarah Boyack on the sustainability of local services. The SNP funding regime is not delivering for Scotland, she adds.

FM says local government leaders say the SNP is delivering better outcomes than the previous Scottish government.

Labour's Jackie Baillie on the serious NHS incidents, broadcast by the BBC. What is his reaction?

FM says a national approach to serious incident reporting is being drawn up by the NHS, and there will be a whistleblower phone number to report incidents.

Ms Baillie says that one of the issues raised by the programme was the treatment of staff who report such incidents. I am delighted that the FM has announced a whistleblower's helpline. Why was it not done before, she asks?

Maureen Watt questions whether Scotland is too reliant on the oil and gas industry.

FM tells the SNP's Maureen Watt "no", and says the Scottish oil and gas industry is a major part of the economy.

Ms Watt adds that the economic levers need to be in Scotland so that the country can remain a world leader in this sector.

That's it for this week's FMQs. To follow all things politics, bookmark our Scottish Politics page and to watch live and on-demand video from Holyrood go to our Democracy Live page.