First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 21 Tachwedd 2024.
Kenneth Gibson
Scottish National Party
Last week, the Post Office announced the closure of all 115 Crown post office branches that are owned directly by the United Kingdom Labour Government, with the loss of up to 1,000 jobs. One of the 10 Scottish branches that are slated for closure is in Saltcoats, which is in my Constituency.
Post offices provide a range of vital services—vital particularly to older people who are less comfortable with technology. The loss of services and jobs will be felt keenly. Will the First Minister outline what representations the Scottish Government is making to UK ministers to save these important community resources?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I understand the point that Mr Gibson puts to me. The provision of access to Post Office services in communities is crucial in ensuring that there is an effective network available. We will certainly make sure that the representations that Mr Gibson has made to me today are taken up with the United Kingdom Government, so that all constituents, especially those to whom Mr Gibson referred, have access to a viable and effective network of postal services in Scotland that meets their needs.
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.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
