Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 15 May 2024.
Clare Haughey
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward work to engage with the Scottish diaspora. (S6O-03421)
Angus Robertson
Scottish National Party
Scotland embraces opportunities to strengthen its international relationships by better engaging with our diaspora. We believe that it can benefit us economically and culturally and can improve Scotland’s influence and reputation.
In 2023, we published the “Scottish Connections Framework”, which sets out our cross-cutting approach to strengthening relationships with Scotland’s international groups and developing digital resources to help people join our Scottish connections community.
This year, we aim to establish an external advisory panel and launch the second round of the Scottish connections fund, as we continue building relationships globally through our international offices, Scottish Development International, GlobalScot’s trade and investment envoys, and public bodies.
Clare Haughey
Scottish National Party
The year 2026 will mark the 900th anniversary of the charter of Rutherglen as a royal burgh. A growing programme of community-led events and celebrations is already being planned to celebrate the town’s history and to look towards the future. Rutherglen has a strong local identity, of which its people are very proud, and many residents past and present have a keen interest in sharing their stories and memories. Can the Cabinet secretary give further information about support that is available to local groups and organisations to strengthen those connections and reach out to the wider Ruglonian diaspora?
Angus Robertson
Scottish National Party
Our digital tools for the diaspora are available on the website www.scotland.org to help people and organisations around the world, including in Rutherglen, to join our Scottish connections community. Through our online registration service, anyone can register as a member of Scotland’s international community to receive regular communications on news from Scotland or activity that is happening locally. Whether individuals are part of our heritage diaspora, want to connect with Scottish business or education, or want to hear more about our arts and culture, our community directory brings together Scottish organisations and groups into one handy list.
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.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
