The first minister says the figures on return to custody are in the first tranche of the prisoner release scheme 13% and in the second 5%.

Swinney says he shares the concern about sexual crimes and he adds that the government has passed legislation to address the issue.

He points out that there has been an increase in reporting and prosecution of sexual crimes.

The FM denies the government has been "dragging its heels" and he insists his government is entirely focused on making sure women and girls are protected.

Image source, Getty Images

Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland increased by 10% last year and are now at their highest level since 1971, official figures show., external

The total number of sexual crimes, which include rape and attempted rape, sexual assault and communicating indecently, rose from 14,892 to 16,430. There was also a 23% increase in offences under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act, which rose from 2,573 to 3,170 in 2025-26.

Rape Crisis Scotland said many survivors of sexual crimes choose not to report, so the true number is likely to be even higher.

Justice Secretary Neil Gray said he was "of course concerned" by the increase in recorded crime, especially by the rise in sexual crimes.

Read more here.

Alex Cole-Hamilton warns that without a strategy, early release will be a revolving door.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says: "Our justice system is in crisis."

He points out that sexual crime is the highest it's been since 1971.

The domestic abuse protections agreed to five years ago are still not in place, he points out.

He asks when the government will stop dragging its feet and restore the public faith in the broken justice system.

The first minister turns to the question about the early release of prisoners.

Swinney accepts the prison population has been rising significantly.

He highlights the government measure to bring about the early release of certain prisoners with significant exemption.

The FM points out that the justice secretary will lead a debate on this issue this afternoon and says he will write to the Scottish Lib Dem leader with the details of reoffending.

Parties unlikely to be thrilled by running orderpublished at 14:10 BST 25 June

14:10 BST 25 June

Jenni Davidson
BBC Scotland senior politics reporter

The biggest parties are unlikely to be thrilled about the changes to today’s running order, particularly if it becomes a regular feature of FMQs under Kenneth Gibson.

Getting the chance to ask your questions first is one of the privileges of being the biggest opposition party, and Labour and Reform are already having to share the top spot on alternate weeks, due to having the same number of MSPs.

The Lib Dems may be happier with today’s switch-around, though.

They’ve been displeased that as the last party to go, their questions can drop off the end of a half-hour TV programme if timings overrun, now there are no backbench questions to follow the leaders’ questions.

But a one-off change may not be enough to assuage the various concerns about the new format of splitting questions to the first minister across a Tuesday and a Thursday.

The first minister associates himself with Cole-Hamilton's comments on the attack on Muslims in Edinburgh.

"The feeling of unease is palpable in the community," John Swinney says.

He explains he met the victims of the attack and his heart goes out to them.

Swinney reiterates his wholehearted commitment to give the leadership to ensure Scotland is a "tolerant and inclusive country".

David Cowan
Home Affairs Correspondent, BBC Scotland

Scotland's prison population has climbed to yet another all-time high, despite the emergency early release of more than 600 convicted criminals over the last six months.

On Tuesday, a total of 8,587 inmates were being held in a system designed to accommodate 7,805.

Numerous attempts to address overcrowding have failed to make a long-term impact and the newly re-elected Scottish government has admitted the population has reached critical levels.

It says it is taking further action to get the numbers down and increase capacity across the prison estate.

Read more here.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader asks about those leaving Scotland's jails.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says prisons are "bursting at the seams".

He asks how many of those prisoners released early went on to reoffend and how many of them are already back behind bars.

Image source, UGC

A man has appeared in court charged with five counts of attempted murder linked to terrorism, following alleged anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh.

Five people were hurt at various locations in the city on Friday night.

Lewis Hawkes was also charged with assault and robbery, breach of the peace and culpable and reckless conduct.

He appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The 36-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody.

Read more here.

In actual fact we're going straight to first minister's questions.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton gets proceedings under way by saying everyone in the chamber will join him in expressing solidarity with Scotland's Muslim community, after the brutal and unprovoked attacks in Edinburgh last weekend.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says the community has made a plea for tolerance and understanding.

Jenni Davidson
BBC Scotland senior politics reporter

Image source, PA Media

Coming up we have the final First Minister’s Questions before Holyrood breaks for the summer recess.

There is a swapping round of the party order for party leaders’ questions today.

By convention, the party leader of the biggest opposition party gets to go first, with Reform and Labour currently taking it week about to go first as the joint largest opposition parties.

But Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson warned when he announced the changes to the format of FMQs last month, that he might occasionally reverse the running order “for devilment and to freshen things up”, and indeed he is doing so today.

This means today’s questions will start with two questions from Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, followed by two questions from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay.

There will then be three questions from one of the two Green party co-conveners, followed by three each from Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar and Reform's Malcolm Offord.

Questions today may cover some of the biggest issues of this week, such as the Peter Murrell case, the court ruling on the housing of trans prisoners according to biological sex and the rise in sexual offences in the most recent crime figures.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Image source, JAMES ADAMS/FACEBOOK

The FMQs session might be a couple of minutes late getting under way today.

That's because this afternoon's proceedings will begin with the swearing-in of a brand new MSP.

James Adams has been elected to Holyrood to represent North East Scotland.

He's replacing Douglas Lumsden, who won the Aberdeen South Westminster by-election that was caused by the SNP MSP Stephen Flynn's decision to move from the House of Commons to Holyrood.

New dual mandate rules prevent politicians sitting in two parliaments at the same time.

Now the electoral merry-go-round has stopped, James Adams brings the number of new MSPs to 65, meaning there is a majority of first-term parliamentarians.

It's been a seismic week in politics with the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader paving the way for a contest for a new prime minister.

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after he admitted to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.

Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland increased by 10% last year and are now at their highest level since 1971.

And it emerged that transgender prisoners are being moved to jails according to their biological sex, after the Scottish government confirmed it would not appeal a legal ruling.

We reported in May that Scotland's prison population had climbed to yet another all-time high, despite the emergency early release of more than 600 convicted criminals over the last six months. MSPs are due to debate this issue this afternoon.

And finally, a data centre which developers say would represent a £2bn investment at a rural spot in the Borders has been described by opponents as a "monster" which would drain "the life and beauty from the landscape".

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions from the opposition party leaders.

The last FMQs before the summer recess is due to begin at about 14:00.

The opposition party leaders will asks their questions in reverse order this week, starting with Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and ending with the Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord.

We'll bring you reports and analysis throughout and, as ever, you can follow events in the chamber by clicking on the Watch Live icon at the top of this page.