Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 June 2024.
Angela Constance
Scottish National Party
We all want complainers to have the confidence to report sexual crimes and we are committed to improving the justice system to better respond to victims’ needs.
Police Scotland has made significant improvements in its approach to tackling violence against women and girls and has an on-going commitment to improve its organisational culture, with zero tolerance for any form of sexism, misogyny or discrimination.
In addition, the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to improve complainers’ experiences, with a particular focus on ensuring that complainers in sexual offence cases have confidence in the justice system.
We also recognise the important role that front-line services play in helping survivors to come forward. Through the equally safe fund, we have invested £19 million to support 123 organisations.
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.
