– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:09 pm on 26 September 2007.
Alex Fergusson
None
5:09,
26 September 2007
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S3M-544, in the name of Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business— Wednesday 3 October 2007
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Scottish Government Debate: Crerar Review followed by Debate on the draft Provision of School Lunches (Disapplication of the Requirement to Charge) (Scotland) Order 2007 followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 4 October 2007
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
11.40 am General Question Time 12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time— Education and Lifelong Learning; Europe, External Affairs and Culture
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Wildlife Crime followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Wednesday 24 October 2007
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Scottish Government Business followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 25 October 2007
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Question Time 12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time— Rural Affairs and the Environment; Health and Wellbeing
2.55 pm Scottish Government Business followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business and b) that the period for members to submit their names for selection for General and Themed Question Times on 25 October 2007 should end at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 3 October.—[Bruce Crawford.]
Motion agreed to.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
