– in the Scottish Parliament on 12 December 2024.
Scotland’s schools are critical to the fortunes and future of our country, but after 17 years of Scottish National Party rule, pupils and teachers are being failed. The SNP’s 2021...
It was revealed this week that 40 per cent of pupils in Scotland have additional support needs, which is a new record. At the same time, the number of ASN teachers has fallen by 400 on the...
I was disappointed to hear that Scotland’s First Minister has been having friendly chats with President-elect Trump, with no discussion of his policy agenda. Donald Trump’s...
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to bring forward legislation to criminalise non-fatal strangulation. (S6F-03622)
To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authorities regarding the reported impending closure of library facilities across Scotland. (S6F-03621)
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reported comments from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland that “children are being let...
On the subject of the Scottish budget, new polling this week showed that 78 per cent of Labour voters, 69 per cent of Tory voters and 81 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters support the Scottish...
Universities Scotland has said that the sector is in an “immensely difficult place”. The University of Dundee, which is of critical importance to the city and to Scotland, faces a...
I am sure that the First Minister shared my surprise that, last night, Anas Sarwar voted with the Conservatives against the Scottish National Party Government’s budget—[Interruption.]
An investigation into Edinburgh maternity units found that “Mothers and newborn babies came to harm” from “a ‘toxic’ culture”,...
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.
