A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

Fiscal Framework

Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 May 2024.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Shona Robison Shona Robison Scottish National Party

Scottish revenues, through personal and business taxation, contribute to the whole of the United Kingdom. The idea that, somehow, Scotland is subsidised is not a proposition that I support. Scotland more than pays our share, not least when we look at the revenues from energy that have flowed to the UK Government over many years. The point of the fiscal framework was to recognise that, while we are under the current constitutional arrangements, there is a risk of slower population growth in Scotland relative to the rest of the UK. I hope that Labour will join us in furnishing the Scottish Government with the powers over population growth, such as migration. We would be keen to work with any future UK Government to have a migration system that suits the needs of the Scottish economy.

Question Time

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.