Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 10 October 2024.
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
2:00,
10 October 2024
I thank the member for her interest in the issue. I am aware of the research from Girlguiding Scotland, which is seriously concerning, and I am sorry to hear about the experiences of her constituent.
As the GBV guidance makes clear, the needs of the child or young person who has experienced gender-based violence should be central in determining a response to support them, and a clear plan to secure the safety of all children and young people who are involved, which includes appropriate actions, needs to be established by schools.
I acknowledge Michelle Thomson’s concern about the burden arising from any change to learning environments that follows young people being affected by sexual violence. I am, however, cognisant that schools should be given sufficient opportunity to implement the guidance—which, as I mentioned in my original answer, was published only in March.
The Government has committed to commissioning an independent review of the guidance to establish positive practices and further areas for improvement before the end of the parliamentary session, and I am happy to keep the member updated on the work of that review.
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.
