Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 29 January 2025.
Jackie Baillie
Labour
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder. (S6O-04258)
Angela Constance
Scottish National Party
The First Minister and I met with the Caldwell family on 21 January 2025 to listen to their views on the next steps, including the appointment of a chair and ways to progress the criminal investigation of the initial police inquiry. The Scottish Government will ensure that the inquiry is set up and properly resourced to carry out its work. Once a chair has been appointed, we will work alongside the chair, and Emma’s family, in setting and agreeing the terms of reference for the inquiry.
Decisions on further criminal investigations are a matter for the Lord Advocate, acting independently of ministers. We continue to liaise with the Crown Office to understand the implications of the investigation for the setting up of the inquiry.
Jackie Baillie
Labour
I do not think that anyone can help but be disturbed at the failings of the justice system in this case. Emma Caldwell’s family have been asking for a public inquiry to be chaired by a judge from outwith Scotland in order to give them confidence that the process will be truly independent. Has the Cabinet secretary agreed to that? Can she provide any indication of when the inquiry is likely to start?
Angela Constance
Scottish National Party
I reassure Ms Baillie and other members that my position on those matters has not changed. As I informed members when I announced that there will be a public inquiry, and as I restated when I met the Caldwell family last week, what is most important is that the person who leads the inquiry has the confidence of the family, understands their trauma and has the necessary expertise to lead an inquiry of that nature. We had a very constructive conversation with the family, and it was very important for them to meet the current First Minister.
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.
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.
