Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 20 November 2024.
Roz McCall
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the reported potential withdrawal of levelling up funding for the city of Dunfermline and any economic impact this may have. (S6O-03977)
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
We are in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a range of issues, including the future of levelling up and other funds. Indeed, I raised that in person with the relevant UK Government Minister yesterday.
I have raised the point about uncertainty of funding for a number of levelling-up projects, including in the city of Dunfermline, and I will continue to press for clarity on the future of those projects.
Roz McCall
Conservative
As I referred to in my initial question, the UK Labour Government has threatened to pull £5 million-worth of crucial levelling-up funding from the city of Dunfermline. That vital cash was intended to renovate St Margaret’s house into a new cultural space; repair and restore the city’s B-listed Fire Station Creative building; turn Tower house into an improved cultural space; and create a new amphitheatre for outdoor performances at the Dunfermline learning campus. I am clear that such withdrawal of funding is a betrayal of Scotland’s newest and fastest-growing city.
Will the Deputy First Minister commit to strenuously making the case for the funding that is necessary to protect those projects and to progress them, or will my constituents be left with nothing?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
As a point of principle, the Scottish Government is very supportive of place-based regeneration, and I understand the disappointment that the member has expressed.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government is writing to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, seeking further information on the UK Government’s intentions for previously committed funding and for previously committed projects that did not receive confirmation of funding in the UK budget. We will, to use the member’s word, continue to strenuously push for maximum support for Dunfermline, and for other areas that have been promised funding.
David Torrance
Scottish National Party
Westminster promised funding to communities across Scotland, and now, in the face of further austerity, Dunfermline’s projects hang in the balance. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that that funding cannot be another of Labour’s abandoned promises and that, rather than bypassing Scotland’s elected Parliament, any funding should be for this Parliament to deliver for communities?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
On the points that David Torrance makes, we appreciate that that uncertainty from the UK Government around projects that have been previously promised is disappointing, but we will continue to work with the UK Government on ensuring that there is funding cover where that has been promised.
I have been encouraged by the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to restore decision making over the allocation of structural funds to devolved Governments such as the Scottish Government, and I must say that just yesterday I had a very positive meeting with the relevant Minister, Alex Norris, to look at how we can work closely together to make every penny go as far as possible in the best interests of our communities.
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.
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.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
