13:34

First minister’s questions in the Holyrood chamber focused on concerns about a third infection outbreak in a Glasgow hospital, which has been linked to the deaths of two premature babies, and homelessness. There was a brief mention of the budget – to be voted on later and as yet the SNP’s minority government has not found the support it needs to pass its spending plans – with Nicola Sturgeon saying she was “hopeful” that a deal would be reached in time with the Scottish Greens.

Earlier in the day, the deputy first minister John Swinney confirmed the suspension of an inquiry into whether Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code during the Scottish government’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against Alex Salmond.

He said it had been agreed that the inquiry, which will be led by Ireland’s former chief prosecutor James Hamilton, should be deferred while criminal investigations against Salmond are active. He added that the Scottish government’s review of the application of its procedure for handling complaints about ministers or former ministers would also “not be progressed at this stage”.



Sturgeon referred herself for investigation earlier this month after questions over whether she had breached the code by failing to declare five meetings and phone calls with Salmond last year.