If you're just joining us, here are the key lines that emerged from this final FMQs before the summer recess and the general election:

• Douglas Ross asks why, given the number of delayed discharges, delays in cancer treatment and one in seven Scots being on waiting lists, the NHS is not on the first page of the SNP's list of priorities
• The first minister insists more funding is being allocated to the health service and that independence is the only way to combat 14 years of Tory austerity at Westminster
• The Scottish Tory leader says "the SNP is bad for Scotland's health"
• John Swinney reiterates there is "more funding to deal with the increased demand" in the NHS
• The NHS is also the focus of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar's questions as he says Scotland is "sleepwalking" towards a two-tier NHS
• Swinney responds by saying he wants to have an "honest conversation" about the financial support required for the health service
• Sticking with the health theme, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says the SNP have cut mental health budgets and is overseeing a mental health crisis
• Again Swinney defends his government's investment in mental health
• The two-child benefit cap, deaths on the A9 and the Carer Support Payment are all raised from the backbenches

That's all from the live page team today, but there will be plenty more politics here at BBC Scotland News Online over the next week.

The editor today was Paul McLaren. The writers were Morven Mckinnon, Craig Hutchison and Jamie Russell.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The SNP's Emma Harper asks the FM if can provide an update on the government's work to roll out the Carer Support Payment.

Swinney responds: "It's the 14th benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland. It has been available for new applicants in Dundee city, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles since November 2023."

He adds that it will operate nationally from November and, on Monday, they completed the latest phase of the rollout by opening up to new applications in Angus, as well as North and South Lanarkshire.

Emma Harper asks the FM to urge the next UK government to face up to the "devastating" effects that a decade of austerity has had on communities, including unpaid carers.

She asks them to match the "progressive social security ambitions" of the SNP government.

Image source, Google

More on the latest A9 tragedy...

A 50-year-old woman has been arrested after a biker was killed in the crash between a car and two Harley Davidsons.

The 63-year-old man died at the scene of the incident on the A9 near Calvine in Highland Perthshire at about 13:30 on Sunday.

The woman was charged and is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court.

The crash involved a Hyundai Ioniq and a maroon and a blue Harley Davidson. Police Scotland said inquiries were ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

Read more here.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Murdo Fraser asks, in light of the reported number of serious and fatal accidents on the A9 trunk road in recent weeks, what progress is being made on the dualling project.

John Swinney expresses his sympathy to everyone affected by the loss of a loved one.

"This government's commitment to dualling the A9 is steadfast and progress is being made on the timetable."

The completion of the procurement process is close, he adds.

Fraser says the A9 was closed for more than seven hours after the latest fatality and these tragedies will continue until the A9 is dualled in full.

Swinney joins the Tory MSP in praising the community around Blair Atholl and Dunkeld for helping stranded motorists.

Image source, FAMILY HANDOUT

Almost half a million households are now affected by a cap on some benefits, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank.

The two-child cap, which was introduced in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households.

It means families cannot claim about £3,200 a year per extra child, the think tank says.

The government says it is helping with the cost of living.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll asks what assessment the Scottish government has made of recent research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on the impact of the two-child benefit cap.

The first minister says scrapping the Westminster policy will immediately lift children out of poverty and he says it is "breathtaking" Labour are leaving it in place.

John Swinney adds reversing the two-child limit and reintroducing the family element of Universal Credit would lift 10,000 children out of poverty in Scotland.

The first minister points out the government has exceeded its commitment to recruit 800 additional mental health workers in A&Es, GP practices, police station custody suites and prisons.

John Swinney adds his government has also invested in mental health in Scotland's schools, while counsellors and expenditure on CAMHS has also increased.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

It's the turn now of the Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, who begins by saying it's harder than ever to see your GP.

He argues there is a crisis in mental health and says in 2021 Nicola Sturgeon announced the recruitment of 1,000 new staff to lessen the load.

"We've uncovered that three years later not a single one of these workers has been recruited, not one."

The SNP has cut mental health budgets, he adds.

Anas Sarwar says two weeks ago he highlighted the "scandal" of cancer patients paying for chemotherapy.

"Think about that for a moment Mr Swinney when you give your next answer," says Sarwar.

He adds that under this SNP government, Scotland has failed to meet the 62-day standard for cancer treatment.

"It hasn’t been met for 12 years. In that time almost 26, 000 cancer patients have waited too long," he says.

He says nothing sums up SNP waiting time failure like cancer.

Swinney responds by stating he wants to have an honest conversation about the financial support that is required to provide investment in the health service.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar asks FM John Swinney about the chair of BMA Scotland's statement about the state of the NHS.

Dr Ian Kennedy said Scotland was "sleepwalking" and heading towards a two-tier NHS.

The FM says he respects Dr Kennedy's warnings and he is calling for a serious conversation with a potential Labour governmment about what lies ahead.

Sarwar responds by saying it was a "frankly an embarrassing response" from Swinney.

He adds: "You have been in charge of the NHS (in Scotland) for 17 years and the chair of BMA is saying we have a two-tier health service under an SNP government."

He adds that all Swinney can talk about is what would happen if the UK gets a Labour government, while not take responsibility for his own government's decisions.

In his final question, Ross points out Swinney is blaming the failures in Scotland now on a time period before The Scottish Tory leader was born.

"Apparently it has nothing to do with the 17 years the SNP have been in charge here in Scotland," he says

The first minister argues people are suffering due to austerity, the obsession with Brexit and the "ludicrous behaviour of Liz Truss".

Image source, Scottish Parliament

John Swinney insists: "We have to understand the consequences of the devastation wreaked on our country by the policies of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government."

The first minister says: "Douglas Ross demands we do more and demands that we spend less."

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Douglas Ross describes the applauding SNP backbenchers as "clapping seals" - which earns him a ticking off from Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone - and he reiterates Scotland is facing record drug deaths in Europe.

The presiding officer intervenes to ask that everyone conducts their business in a courteous manner.

The Scottish Tory leader then turns to the failure to upgrade key roads.

He also argues the attainment gap has widened and violent crime is up.

"Isn't it time to finally draw a line under the independence debate for good," says Ross.

Image source, Getty Images

Long waiting lists for Cancer patients are becoming a regular occurrence across the UK.

In June, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) said nearly half of all specialist cancer centres were experiencing delays most weeks.

A survey was carried out in November 2023 and found the number of centres experiencing severe delays had almost doubled in a year.

The college warned of an “impending crisis” in the cancer workforce.

They reported a “staggering” 30% shortfall in radiologists and 15% shortfall in clinical oncologists.

The RCR report was based on responses from senior managers at 60 specialist cancer centres in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The first minister says in 2007 the health budget was around 33% of the total budget, today it is closer to 50%.

John Swinney adds: "There is more funding to deal with the increased demand there is in the NHS."

He says Barnett consequentials from the hospitality spending in England were allocated to the health service in Scotland.

The Scottish Tory leader says Scotland's NHS waiting times are at some of the worst levels ever.

"They've made Scotland the drugs death capital of Europe," Douglas Ross adds.

He says life expectancy is lower after 17 years of SNP government at Holyrood.

"The SNP is bad for Scotland's health," Ross says.

He argues fixing Scotland's broken health service should be the government's priority.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The first minister accepts delayed discharges are far too high, but says more cancer patients are being treated and more resources are being allocated to the health service.

John Swinney says the Institute of Fiscal Studies has highlighted a "conspiracy of silence" about the funding of the public services and health service.

He argues independence is the way to confront 14 years of austerity.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Douglas Ross gets FMQs under way by quoting Public Health Scotland figures that show delayed discharge is at a record high.

The Scottish Conservative leader says charity MacMillan says there are "devastating delays in cancer treatment" and one in seven Scots is on an NHS waiting list.

"Given all of this, why does our health service not make it onto the first page of the SNP's priorities?"

Image source, EPA

This time next week people across Scotland the rest of the UK will be casting their votes in the general election, but much of this week's campaigning has been overshadowed by allegations of gambling on the poll.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has defended his decision to bet on colleagues to win seats at the upcoming general election.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has also admitted placing three bets on the election date in the weeks before Rishi Sunak’s surprise announcement - but said he did not break any rules.

What else have we learned from the political betting saga? Click here to find out.

• Debate needed on political betting, minister says

• General election 2024: All BBC stories and analysis

The last of the election manifesto launches took place, with the Scottish Tories, Alba Party and Reform UK publishing their pledges.

• Compare all the election manifestos and policies

And Scotland came home - too soon!

• 'Scotland stunned, sickened, suckered and out of Euros'

Image source, PA Wire

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the final First Minister's Questions before the summer recess and, of course, next week's general election.

This week Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will be joined by Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton in posing the questions to John Swinney.

We'll bring you reports and analysis throughout and you can watch FMQs by clicking on the play icon at the top of the page.