First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 March 2026.
Ross Greer
Green
Free bus travel for young people is the Scottish Greens’ proudest achievement of the past five years. It is a simple idea, but one that has transformed the lives of young people across the country and saved families a fortune. It has opened up opportunities for young people to take up college courses or job opportunities in neighbouring towns without having to worry about whether they can afford to get there. It means that families can take the bus for a day out without it costing them a fortune. On top of that, climate-friendly public transport is the first choice for an entire generation, because of a scheme secured by Green MSPs.
Between young people, older people and disabled people, almost half of all Scots can now use the bus for free. The Scottish Greens want to go further. We believe that Scotland can be like Malta and Luxembourg and offer free bus travel to everyone. Does the First Minister agree and, if not, what is his alternative to help people to save money on their transport costs?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
All those steps are very welcome, but the Government has also put in place a £2 bus fare cap, which is being taken forward in the Highlands and Islands to determine how it can operate. We have abolished peak rail fares and we have frozen rail fares so that more people can use public transport.
Those are some of the measures that the Scottish Government is taking to make sure that people are able to access public transport and have a much greater choice when doing so.
Ross Greer
Green
I am glad that the First Minister has mentioned the £2 bus fare cap across the Highlands and Islands and the scrapping of peak rail fares. Those were also policies that were proposed by Green MSPs in budget negotiations. We are proud to have provided those ideas, which have saved families a fortune and are helping to tackle the climate crisis.
On top of that, we established Scotland’s first nature restoration fund, we brought in the emergency rent freeze and we wiped out school meal debts for thousands of struggling families. Green MSPs have delivered changes that have saved families a fortune and protected our planet. We know that the solutions to the climate crisis and the cost of living crisis are one and the same.
We were proud to work with the First Minister and the Scottish National Party to deliver those changes, because Greens believe in co-operating to take Scotland forward. However, those ideas were all put on the table by Green MSPs in the first place. We brought forward bold, progressive ideas and we worked to deliver them. What is the First Minister’s favourite of the changes that the Greens have delivered in this Parliament?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I am very pleased that the Government that I lead is able to afford a balanced budget that puts the money in place to deliver on our policy priorities. As a consequence, I am very proud that, because of the steps taken by this Government, child poverty in Scotland is falling. It is 9 per cent below the levels in the rest of the United Kingdom, and that is because of the leadership of an SNP Government.
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.
