Part of Topical Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 1 October 2024.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
Collette Stevenson is quite right to point out to members and to people across the country the difference that Labour is making. Labour promised to cut fuel Bills but, this very day, people are seeing that their fuel bills will go up this winter. I am not sure that that is the change that people had in mind.
Given the circumstances that we face, the Scottish Government not only is looking to see what can be done with the powers and resources that we have but is keen to work with energy providers. Collette Stevenson mentioned a very important example of such work. A social tariff would provide affordable energy bills and should be automatically applied for those who are most in need, but we need the UK Government to work with us and energy companies on that. In the meantime, we are establishing a working group to work with energy companies to demonstrate the viability of a social tariff, and I hope that the UK Government will commit to taking that 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.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
