Part of Topical Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 1 October 2024.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party
Scottish Government analysis suggests that between 110,000 and 130,000 pensioners will remain eligible for payment in Scotland this winter, representing a reduction of around 900,000 pensioners who will no longer be entitled this winter.
The obligation of the UK Government to do a benefit uptake campaign is of absolutely critical importance. As soon as the UK Government announced the decision, I wrote to the Secretary of State to encourage her to do that, and we have seen some progress. Although it is a reserved benefit, the agencies in Scotland, including Social Security Scotland, are keen to amplify that message further and are working with the DWP on that.
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.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
