Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 29 October 2025.
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
I thank Tess White for that question. At the top of my answer, I say that I would be happy to engage with any of Tess White’s constituents and any deaf women in her Constituency who have raised those matters, because the statistic that she references is one that requires us to sit up and take notice.
There are several routes to improving BSL provision. Tess White will be aware of the new service that we have been piloting for video remote interpreting. She will also be aware of SignPort, the new app that has been launched with Scottish Government funding, which will develop interpreter booking facilities to make them easier to use.
The third thing that I want to highlight is the importance of local BSL plans. Tess White talked specifically about the north-east, although I imagine that the statistic that she gave applies right across the country. It is important to make sure that local plans are robust. We have recently awarded one-year funding and an in-principle commitment to year 2 funding for a BSL network to share best practice and advice with listed authorities on the delivery of their local plans. That will ensure that, in her own constituency area, there is a plan that is robust and can deliver the services that are required.
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.
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
