Part of Topical Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 1 October 2024.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
Mr Kerr will be cognisant of the consultation that was undergone at the time.
I point Mr Kerr to the facts when it comes to what happened in the past and contrast that with the current situation with the winter heating payment. Forecasts indicate that we will invest £24.4 million this winter for winter heating payment. That is nearly tripling the £8.5 million that the Department for Work and Pensions provided on average in each of the past seven years, prior to the introduction of the new winter heating payment.
Mr Kerr fails to recognise that the Scottish Government’s decisions will guarantee people support this year, which will be more than welcome, given other announcements by the UK Government. It is very important that that reassurance and guaranteed payment are there.
The demonstrable difference that the payment will make is clear, given that our investment is much more than that of the DWP. We are investing more in social security, because it is an investment in our people.
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.
