General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 19 December 2024.
Stuart McMillan
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed transport infrastructure in Inverclyde with Transport Scotland. (S6O-04140)
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
Transport Scotland is Scotland’s national transport agency and is part of the Scottish Government. My Transport Scotland officials are in regular contact with their colleagues in planning and regional economic development departments regarding a wide range of topics, including transport infrastructure in Inverclyde.
Recent discussions have included the preparation of Inverclyde Council’s local development plan and the delivery of city region deal projects. In the case of the local development plan, transport infrastructure is a critical enabler, in the planning process, of long-term sustainable growth.
Stuart McMillan
Scottish National Party
I thank Amey for its investment in the trunk road network in my Constituency over the past two years, particularly the resurfacing between Greenock and Port Glasgow on the A8 and the A78.
However, Amey has let itself down on one aspect: the relining of roundabouts in Greenock and Port Glasgow. There are serious safety concerns about three particular roundabouts because of the lack of relining. I ask the Cabinet secretary to engage with Transport Scotland to ensure that that work is undertaken as quickly as possible.
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the A8 through Inverclyde, and we will continue to invest in keeping it well maintained and safe. Our operating company, Amey, has committed to renewing the road markings at the roundabouts at the earliest opportunity, following representations from Stuart McMillan as the Constituency MSP. In the meantime, weekly safety inspections will continue, and any safety-critical defects will be addressed quickly.
Alison Johnstone
Presiding Officer
I remind all members that they should attend from the beginning of a question session in which they have a question.
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.
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.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
