– in the Scottish Parliament on 26 September 2024.
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests; my wife is a sergeant with Police Scotland. November will mark 20 years since Alistair Wilson was murdered on...
Figures published this week have revealed the extent of the homelessness crisis in Scotland. On the Scottish National Party Government’s watch, 40,685 homelessness applications were...
This week is climate week. The Climate Change Committee tells us that we urgently need to decarbonise transport and get people out of cars and planes and on to buses, trains and their own feet...
To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government is having with energy companies regarding a possible “social tariff” to reduce bills for low-income households....
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to embed domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms, similar to plans announced by the United Kingdom Government for England and...
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports regarding the number of young people aged 11 to 14 who are involved in violent crime. (S6F-03394)
This week is organ donation week. It is an opportunity to encourage people across Scotland to make known their organ donation wishes, and to explain the importance of sharing a person’s...
What is the Scottish Government’s reaction to the findings in a new study by the World Health Organization that Scottish 13-year-old girls are displaying addictive behaviours towards social...
I have been contacted by Alan Ronald, who is a type 1 diabetic. Last month, he visited more than six different pharmacies before eventually getting insulin in Glasgow. Yesterday, he was told at...
In the light of this being international week of deaf people, how is the Scottish Government ensuring that Scotland is the best place for deaf people to visit and to live, work and learn in?
From a response to my letter to the Prime Minister, I understand that the Department for Transport is still in discussions with His Majesty’s Treasury regarding the £8 million...
I am aware that the recently published global financial centres index has recognised that Edinburgh continues to further its standing as one of the world’s leading financial centres. That...
Following warnings that Scotland faces a “cultural recession”, it was reported that Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government were in talks over the immediate future of arts...
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.
