– in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 October 2023.
Bill Kidd
Scottish National Party
As we mark care experienced week, will the First Minister provide an update on the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to improve the experiences of and outcomes for looked-after children as they transition to adulthood?
Humza Yousaf
Scottish National Party
I think that every member of the Scottish Parliament who has met care-experienced people—particularly care-experienced young people—will have been moved by their plight, their strength and their advocacy. Yesterday, I had the great privilege of meeting a group of care-experienced young people in Glasgow, where I heard about some of the challenges that care-experienced people face during their transition to adulthood.
For anyone, moving away from home can be a challenging time when we rely heavily on our family support networks, but not everybody has a family support network. Not everybody has the luxury of their mother and their father—or, indeed, wider family—to rely on.
That is why I was pleased to set out the Government’s proposal for a £2,000 payment for care leavers to provide financial support at such a pivotal moment in young people’s lives, as part of a broader package of support. That is a key step in keeping the Promise, and I reiterate to members today that I, as First Minister, and the Government fully intend not only to keep the Promise but to ensure that it is delivered.
The Presiding Officer:
That concludes First Minister’s Question Time.
Sandesh Gulhane
Conservative
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I declare my interest as a practising general practitioner in the national health service.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you, Dr Gulhane. Your comment has been recorded.
The next item of business is a members’ business debate in the name of Paul Sweeney. There will be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and the public gallery to do so before the debate begins.
12:45 Meeting suspended.
12:47 On resuming—
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.
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.
