– in the Scottish Parliament on 19 December 2024.
In criminal cases, prosecutors often strike plea deals with defence lawyers. That practice can result in very serious charges being watered down or dropped altogether, even when the evidence is...
Presiding Officer, I wish you and everyone across the chamber, and all the Parliament staff, a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2025. I send a special thank you to our emergency service...
Presiding Officer, I, too, wish you and all Parliament staff, and members across the chamber, all the best for the festive season, and a good new year. However, 2024 was the year when...
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will encourage the public not to buy puppies or dogs during the festive period, in light of the reported possibility that these may be...
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported announcement that NHS Scotland’s information technology software supplier, INPS, has...
To ask the First Minister what consideration the Scottish Government has given to what the potential impact might be on deaf and deafblind people of the termination of its contract with Contact...
When the previous Conservative Government proposed closing Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office operations in East Kilbride, I stood with the Labour council leader against that bad...
On Sunday 15 December, which was the day of the Scottish cup final, we witnessed appalling scenes of violence and disorder in the city centre of Glasgow, which was caused by groups of football...
Harland & Wolff’s deal with Navantia will save thousands of jobs, many of which are at the Methil yard in my constituency. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming the deal, which...
I am sure that we are all looking forward to our festive break—I know that I certainly am—but it is fair to say that many people across Scotland find Christmas and new year to be a...
The Lilias Graham Trust, which is based in Thornhill, near Stirling, has been a lifeline for families in Scotland for decades, during which time the provision of residential support and parenting...
My constituency has no banks—they have all deserted the communities that I serve. In Springburn town centre, however, there is a Crown post office. It is an anchor tenant in the local...
I remind the chamber of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am the director of a company with retail interests and am a member of the Union of Shop,...
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.
