– in the Scottish Parliament am ar 21 Mawrth 2024.
Bob Doris
Scottish National Party
Babies across the UK face delays in treatment for the debilitating genetic condition spinal muscular atrophy because no newborn screening programme exists. I recently met two families impacted by that who want to know why the Majority of European countries screen for SMA, yet we do not. I have been campaigning for that screening for some time. It makes a real difference to the lives of newborn babies.
Given that it now appears likely that there will be a UK pilot for SMA screening, does the First Minister agree that Scotland should be included? Will he meet me to discuss what work is being undertaken in Scotland to prepare for such a pilot, including, as I think he would welcome, identifying potential partnership funds to deliver it?
The First Minister:
I recognise the urgency that families in Scotland that are affected by spinal muscular atrophy feel about the issue. It can be absolutely devastating, and I share the desire for any action that could prevent it.
The UK National Screening Committee is very much in the best position to evaluate all the evidence, and I welcome the in-service evaluation that NHS England is carrying out. I hope that that will bring us closer to a decision. Discussions are on-going about the potential for a Scotland-specific study or for Scotland to participate in the in-service evaluation. However, a number of factors must be worked through before a final decision can be reached. I am always happy, as is the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, to meet Bob Doris to discuss this very important issue.
The Presiding Officer:
That concludes First Minister’s Question Time. The next item of business is a members’ business debate in the name of Douglas Ross. There will be a short suspension to allow those who wish to leave the chamber and public gallery to do so.
12:47 Meeting suspended.
12:48 On resuming—
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.
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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.
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War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
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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.
