– in the Scottish Parliament at on 2 November 2023.
Sharon Dowey
Conservative
On Tuesday night, in the Kirkton area of Dundee, large gangs caused chaos by damaging property, setting fires and blocking roads into a housing estate, which prompted the Intervention of riot police. That behaviour is unacceptable and Kirkton’s residents deserve better. The police force is stretched because of funding constraints, which are making it increasingly challenging for it to handle large-scale incidents such as that one. Will the First Minister get behind the police and reverse police funding cuts?
Humza Yousaf
Scottish National Party
Let me just say very clearly that there was a very efficient response by Police Scotland. We should thank our police officers for what they do every single day, putting themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the public.
On funding for Police Scotland, I have said in the chamber on many occasions in recent weeks that we have provided an increase to Police Scotland’s revenue budget in this financial year.
I am very grateful to not just Police Scotland but the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other partners for their swift attendance and efficiency in dealing with that damaging and reckless behaviour. There is an open police investigation under way, so I urge anyone who has information about the disorder to contact Police Scotland.
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.
An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
