A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

Point of Order

– in the Scottish Parliament at 4:59 pm on 10 December 2025.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative 4:59, 10 December 2025

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Before we get to the urgent question, I will quote your words from yesterday:

“The ‘Scottish Ministerial Code’ states:

‘The Scottish Government should be accountable to the Scottish Parliament’.

As a matter of courtesy and respect, I would expect that, when a Minister cannot provide information in answer to a question in the chamber, and when the minister has committed to providing that answer in the chamber, they should undertake to provide such detail to the member as soon as it is available.”—[Official Report, 9 December 2025; c 95-6.]

Five minutes ago—at 1 minute past 5—I received the information that I had requested back on 25 November. Half an hour before that, the Scottish Government published the information on its website. I ask for your understanding of and reaction to what I believe is a discourtesy not just to the Parliament, but to you personally, given your ruling last night.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

I am not aware of publication this afternoon, but I reiterate whole-heartedly the comments that I made yesterday in the chamber, and I certainly ask that the Government reflect on those comments.

minister

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.