First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 26 Medi 2024.
Karen Adam
Scottish National Party
In the light of this being international week of deaf people, how is the Scottish Government ensuring that Scotland is the best place for deaf people to visit and to live, work and learn in?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I commend my friend and colleague Karen Adam for the tremendous leadership that she offers in this area of policy. She is a champion of the deaf community and raises such issues assiduously.
Our efforts are underpinned by our see hear strategy, which was a product of partnership working with local authorities, health boards and the third sector. See hear funding is used through localised sensory support partnerships, which include the third sector, to help to put supports in place for deaf people. I commend their activity, and I commend Karen Adam for the leadership that she shows on this matter.
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.
