Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 November 2025.
Foysol Choudhury
Independent
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its decision to narrow the eligibility criteria for the autumn Covid-19 booster, what assessment it has made of the cost to the national health service and the impact on hospitalisation rates. (S6O-05202)
Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party
Eligibility for the Covid-19 vaccine is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and is identical across the four United Kingdom nations this winter. JCVI advice is based on its standard cost-effectiveness analysis, which shows that the oldest in the population and individuals who are immunosuppressed are at the highest risk of serious Covid-19-related disease, hospitalisation and death.
The recent Public Health Scotland “Viral Respiratory Diseases in Scotland Surveillance Report”, covering the period from 10 November to 16 November, shows that
“COVID-19 activity decreased or remained stable overall”,
with 73 hospital admissions that week—a decrease from 81 in the previous week.
Foysol Choudhury
Independent
One of my constituents is a type 1 diabetic, and so is her son. She recently paid almost £300 to get booster jabs for herself and her son, and for her husband, who is an unpaid carer.
I am sure that the Scottish Government will agree that it is unacceptable to expect vulnerable families across Scotland to pay hundreds of pounds at a time to protect themselves from Covid. Will the Scottish Government therefore consider applying a discount for type 1 diabetics who are under 75?
Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party
I understand that the groups who are no longer eligible for Covid vaccination—namely, those aged 65 to 74, those in wider clinical at-risk groups and front-line health and social care workers—might be feeling anxious. To them, I say that the overall threat of Covid has thankfully diminished over time as a result of high levels of vaccine-based immunity and naturally acquired immunity from the infection.
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.
