General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 23 January 2025.
Foysol Choudhury
Labour
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its provision of funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza, whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding recent developments in Gaza. (S6O-04239)
Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party
To date, the Scottish Government has committed £1 million for the crisis in Gaza and the wider middle east. That money has provided food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people across the region. As the political and humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to develop, Scottish Government officials will maintain regular contact with their counterparts in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. With a ceasefire now in place, we urge all parties to facilitate a surge in the delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the unimaginable suffering that has been endured over the past 15 months.
Foysol Choudhury
Labour
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the returning of hostages should be welcome, but they will not undo the suffering that has been inflicted on the people of Gaza or the actions that Amnesty International said broke the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Does the Minister agree that the ceasefire is not the end of the conflict and that diplomatic pressure on all parties is needed to deliver a free Palestine and regional peace, particularly following recent violence in the West Bank? Will the Scottish Government consider actions to prevent public money from going to organisations that have profited from the war?
Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party
I agree entirely with Mr Choudhury on the need to urge all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and to ensure that we maximise support and humanitarian aid not only in terms of infrastructure, but in recognition of the fact that this is a severely traumatised population. We need long-term sustained investment to support the people of Gaza, and the Scottish Government is committed to that.
On his specific points on procurement, the member will recognise that we operate under a suite of domestic and international procurement Laws and regulations, by which we must abide. I hope that the member recognise, from the commitments that the Scottish Government has made and what it has delivered to date, that we very much have the same position and view that he has on this matter.
Emma Roddick
Scottish National Party
I recently met Highland-Palestine, which is a group that does incredible work to raise awareness and show solidarity from the Highlands with the people of Palestine. Although the news that a ceasefire agreement has been reached is extremely welcome, the humanitarian situation on the ground in Palestine remains desperate. What further discussions has the Government had with the UK Government about allowing Palestinians who have lost homes and loved ones to resettle and find sanctuary in Scotland?
Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party
Scotland has a long history of welcoming people who are fleeing war and persecution. The Minister for Equalities wrote to the UK Government in November to call again for a bespoke family reunion scheme to be established, to enable people in Gaza to seek sanctuary with family members in the UK.
The Home Office replied on 7 January, saying that no changes to existing visa schemes and immigration routes were planned. We are extremely disappointed by that reply and continue to urge the UK Government to provide support for Palestinian families in their time of extreme suffering.
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.
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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.
