As another day on the campaign trail draws to a close, here are the headlines that emerged:

• All of the six larger parties in Scotland agreed on the importance of respite care, after BBC Scotland reported families of severely disabled children fear a respite centre they rely on could face closure
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar promised to begin the process of securing sites for new nuclear power stations from day one of a new Scottish government
• Tens of thousands of jobs in industries like green energy could be created, according to Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer
• Reform UK's leader in Scotland Malcolm Offord said growing the economy and cutting taxes will help fund the NHS
• For the Scottish Lib Dems, leader Alex Cole-Hamilton unveiled plans for an industrial skills strategy, including further investment in Scotland's colleges.
• SNP leader John Swinney pledged a £750,000 investment in a new mobile dental service for the Western Isles
• Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay promised to upgrade key trunk roads to "turbocharge the economy and get Scotland working"

Thank you for being with us today. We're back on the trail tomorrow morning, so please join us then.

Are the parties being realistic about challenges facing services in Scotland?published at 16:45 BST 9 April

16:45 BST 9 April

BBC Scotland: Phil Sim

Political leaders are debating NHS funding today - but are any of them being realistic about the challenges facing Scottish services?

In this year's Scottish budget, health and social care was handed a small increase in funding - about 0.7% in real terms compared to the previous year, according to the Scottish Fiscal Commission, external.

But at the same time, ministers have agreed pay deals with a number of groups - 3.7% this year for staff including nurses, paramedics and midwives, and a deal equivalent to 9.4% for resident doctors.

This has avoided strikes by healthcare staff of the sort seen in England - but given public sector pay accounts for just over 50% of the Scottish budget, it bears a financial burden.

David Phillips of the Institute for Fiscal Studies suggested on his organisation’s podcast that whoever wins the election will have been dealta “really poor hand”, external and may find themselves having to make cuts elsewhere to “top up” the NHS budget in light of the pay deals.

And Mairi Spowage of the Fraser of Allander Institute said the next government will face a “reckoning” about its finances, with many problems having been “stored up” ahead of the budget which needs to be drawn up at the end of this year.

She said: “We have to accept in Scotland that we can’t afford to deliver all the services we’re delivering right now. It’s not about keeping it the same - we need to make a change either in how we’re delivering services, or the extent of the services delivered.”

Now, if you're just joining us here's a summary of what the six larger parties in Scotland have been focusing on today:

Scottish Labour are promising to begin the process of securing sites for new nuclear power stations from day one of a new Scottish government.

The Scottish Lib Dems unveiled plans for an industrial skills strategy, including further investment in Scotland's colleges.

The SNP has pledged a £750,000 investment in a new mobile dental service for the Western Isles.

The Scottish Conservatives promise to upgrade key trunk roads to "turbocharge the economy and get Scotland working".

Reform UK say growing the economy and cutting taxes will help fund the NHS.

The Scottish Greens say tens of thousands of jobs in industries like green energy could be created.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

As we reported earlier the formal dissolution of the Scottish Parliament took place at midnight last night.

It means there are no longer any sitting MSPs and Holyrood can no longer be recalled until after the election on 7 May.

The presiding officer, government ministers and members of Holyrood’s management committee - known as the corporate body - remain in post until they are replaced.

Here's just a flavour of what was achieved in session 6 of the parliament:

• 68 bills were passed
• Committees published 1,062 reports
• 175 FMQs
• 157,800 cups of tea and coffee sold in the Parliament Cafe
• 144 pots of honey made by Holyrood's busy bees
• 1,841 boxes of Parli-mints sold!

According to a poll carried out for BBC Scotland, three topics dominate voters' concerns: the economy, (including the cost of living), health and social care, and immigration.

You can read more about what issues voters said mattered to them here.

Would you like to be in the audience for BBC Scotland's leaders debate?

The special episode of Debate Night, hosted by Stephen Jardine, will take place between 19:00 and 20:30 on Sunday 12 April in Paisley Town Hall.

The leaders of the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, and Reform UK have been invited to take part.

You can apply to be part of the audience at bbc.co.uk/debatenight or by clicking this link.

And of course you can join our live coverage of the debate, with reports and analysis throughout.

Image source, NHS Lothian

We've been bringing you the reaction of Scotland's largest parties to the news NHS Lothian is considering closing one of two respite homes in Livingston and Edinburgh due to severe financial pressures.

Aris Tyrothoulakis, director for women's & children's services at NHS Lothian said no decisions had been made on any closure of Sunndach or Calareidh but an appraisal of options was due later this year.

"Both homes were operating below 50% capacity since 2019, so they are currently being reviewed to ensure services remain sustainable and efficient, while continuing to meet the needs of existing families who rely on this important support," Tyrothoulakis said.

Read more here.

Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent

In Edinburgh, Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie has turned up outside the SNP's headquarters with a cardboard cutout of John Swinney.

She tells journalists the SNP leader has been "dodging" questions over the recentJordan Linden case - and the stunt is aimed at highlighting that.

Linden - the former leader of North Lanarkshire Council was found guilty last month of a series of sexual offences.

Some whistleblowers and victims criticised the SNP's handling of the case. The party is conducting a review of its complaints handling process.

Let's return to the concerns of families of severely disabled children about their respite care.

BBC Scotland News has seen correspondence which shows NHS Lothian is considering closing one of two respite homes in Livingston and Edinburgh due to severe financial pressures.

Russell Findlay argues the SNP government has been solely responsible for Scotland's NHS for almost two decades - "so there's no-one else to blame".

The Scottish Tory leader says his party's manifesto commitment to increase NHS funding, cut waste and focus on frontline delivery would ensure the survival of critical respite centres like these.

Image source, PA

Back to the campaign trail and the Scottish Conservatives have pledged to upgrade the country’s key trunk roads as part of their plans to "turbocharge the economy and get Scotland working".

On a visit to Dumfries and Galloway, leader Russell Findlay says he saw the impact of the SNP’s failure to invest in the lifeline A77 and A75.

The Scottish Tory leader accused John Swinney and the “useless SNP” of repeatedly breaking their promises to fully dual major roads across Scotland.

He added that the nationalists’ betrayal of motorists was resulting in far too many accidents, some fatal, as well as stifling economic growth.

“The SNP’s broken promises are resulting in far too many accidents, some fatal, while the economy continues to suffer," says Findlay.

First minister and SNP leader John Swinney says having support available for children with additional needs and their families is "vital and very much a commitment of the SNP".

Swinney says the health secretary has already been in touch with NHS Lothian about the potential closure of one of two respite homes in Livingston and Edinburgh and he is concerned about the proposals.

He adds it is important to have a sustainable health service in Scotland and there is a focus on early intervention and prevention.

"It's all about making sure we have the healthcare in place that is required by people in Scotland and it is financially sustainable at all times," he says.

Do you have questions about the Scottish Parliament election campaign? What are the issues and policies that are important to you? Our experts will try to answer your questions during the campaign.

You can contact us in the following ways:

• Email us on newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk
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More from Ross Greer, who says Scotland is a wealthy country and the top 2% of households have more wealth than half the population combined. That's before you get to corporate wealth.

He says his party would make sure that the richest individuals and the biggest businesses paid their fair share so that we could provide the essential services that everyone needs.

"We have a very wealthy society where the very, very wealthiest are not yet paying their fair share," Greer adds.

Gillian Sharpe
BBC Scotland

The Scottish Greens say tens of thousands of jobs in industries like green energy could be created with the right government leadership.

Speaking on a visit to a refrigeration factory in Renfrew, the party's co-leader Ross Greer says Scotland has "incredible potential when it comes to green energy".

The situation in the Middle East shows the need for Scotland to move away from oil and gas as quickly as possible, he adds.

Gillian Sharpe
BBC Scotland

Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer says the way that Scotland supports children with additional needs and their families is "probably one of the worst areas of human rights abuse in this country".

Greer says these children are far too often failed in education and their families are failed with wraparound support.

He adds that respite centres provide an absolutely essential service for these families and this service must always be available to them.

"Getting that opportunity for respite is essential," he says.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Back to Anas Sarwar, and that issue of NHS funding and fears over the future of respite centres for severely disabled children.

The Scottish Labour leader says Scotland needs a government that takes responsibility for the outcomes that affect people.

“If a Scottish government continues to slash the budgets of local authorities, that will impact on people's respite care, their social services and what happens in our care homes, as well as care at home," he says.

Sarwar adds that a Labour government priority would be to cut NHS and GP waiting times, "but we will also deliver a local democracy act that will give fair funding to local government so we can invest in social care to make sure we're meeting the needs and aspirations of people across the country."

Catriona MacLennan
BBC Naidheachdan, Isle of Harris

On a visit to the Isle of Harris distillery, where he got a full tour and a whisky tasting, John Swinney sends a strong message to islanders that island living should not be a barrier to accessing the services they require.

Following a pledge to provide £750,000 to boost dental services in the Western Isles in the form of a mobile service, Swinney says it is important that the Scottish government takes measures to ensure that island life is attractive.

He also saiys the government has to be prepared to invest in island communities to ensure repopulation.

Image source, PA

More on the concerns of families of severely disabled children about their respite care.

Growing the economy and cutting taxes will help fund the NHS, says the leader of Reform UK in Scotland.

Asked if the NHS should continue to fund such schemes as respite homes for disabled children, Malcolm Offord says they definitely should.

He argues that reform of the health service and simplified structures would free up cash.

Let's return to the party leaders outlining how they would fund NHS services in Scotland.

It follows our story about families of severely disabled children fearing a respite centre they rely on could face closure.

BBC Scotland News has seen correspondence which shows NHS Lothian is considering closing one of two respite homes in Livingston and Edinburgh due to severe financial pressures.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says unpaid family carers in the Lothians and across Scotland are "on their knees".

He says the loss of respite services would be "a hammer blow", and pledges to protect them.

The Scottish Lib Dems are also promising to increase the carers' allowance by £400 each year.

Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Cole-Hamilton says the crisis in housing is linked to social care, with key workers in these communities unable to find somewhere to live locally.

He pledges to reserve key worker housing in local authorities across Scotland, so that the likes of care workers and teachers can be prioritised.