Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 12 June 2024.
Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party
I join Mr Johnson in recognising the serious concerns that have been raised, and I commend him for his long-standing interest in this area and his leadership in taking forward a member’s bill in the previous session of the Parliament.
The specific matter that Mr Johnson highlights was raised in my conversations with the co-chair of the industry leadership group, and I am happy to confirm to him that there has been engagement on it, including with the participation of the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown. There is cross-ministerial engagement on the issue, and I would be happy to provide more detail in writing to Mr Johnson, if he would be interested, on the engagement that is taking place and the work that has been taken forward.
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.
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