First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 6 June 2024.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
Last weekend, Orkney’s young athletes—hockey players, swimmers, footballers and netballers—successfully retained the Stuart cup in the junior intercounty competition against their Shetland counterparts.
Will the Deputy First Minister join me in congratulating both the Orkney and Shetland athletes on the quality of the competition and the spirit in which it was played and will she also restate the Scottish Government’s on-going support for the International Island Games Association games, which will take place in Orkney in 2025?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
I have no hesitation in joining Liam McArthur in congratulating the Orkney and Shetland athletes. He sits next to Beatrice Wishart and I am sure that there was no bias whatsoever in his question.
The international island games are wonderful. They really put the spotlight on our island communities and give great opportunities to young athletes from those communities, so I wish them well and commend what they have achieved.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes First Minister’s Question Time. The next item of business is a members’ business debate in the name of Mark Ruskell. There will be a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the chamber and the public gallery to do so before that item begins.
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.
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.
