Podcasts By The Scottish Parliament

In conversation: Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and Ellie Craig, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP speaks with Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

They talk about issues including:

• International Women's Day 2026
• Youth participation and how young people shape democracy
• Gender representation and creating a more inclusive Parliament
• Social media’s impact on political engagement
• Respectful political debate
• Encouraging higher voter turnout among young people

First Minister's Questions 5th March 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

Kenneth Gibson

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government’s Spring Statement.

Stephen Kerr

To ask the First Minister, in light of the recently published Commission on School Reform manifesto warning that the curriculum for excellence has been poorly implemented and is harming long-term prospects, what the Scottish Government's position is on whether a lack of clear, nationally specified curriculum content and standards has contributed to declining attainment and inconsistency across Scotland’s schools.

Katy Clark 

To ask the First Minister, in light of the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day being equal rights and equal justice, what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve the legal rights of women and girls. 

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 26 February 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

Michelle Thomson MSP

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of warnings from industry leaders that high transmission charges are making wind farms in the north of Scotland uncompetitive, including any implications for its work to grow the renewable energy sector.

Liam Kerr MSP

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported renewed calls over the weekend to end the Lord Advocate’s dual role, when the Scottish Government will publish its proposals and begin a consultation on separating the prosecution function from the role of providing legal advice to the Scottish Ministers. 

Mercedes Villalba MSP

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83% of those voting in support of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike.

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions - 19th February 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

Christine Grahame
To ask the First Minister what measures the Scottish Government is taking to standardise the criteria for urgent referrals to child and adolescent mental health services for an assessment, in light of reports that it is currently a postcode lottery.

Roz McCall
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that hundreds of teachers have sought medical treatment following attacks by pupils in the last five years.

Maggie Chapman
To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the development of a Just Transition plan for the north east of Scotland, including how communities and workers have been engaged.

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 12 February 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

 

Michelle Thomson MSP

To ask the First Minister how often he or the Scottish Ministers engage with the Scottish Government’s Washington DC International Office regarding the Scotch whisky industry and other economic interests in the United States.

 

Rachael Hamilton MSP

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the Service Delivery Review of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

 

Mark Griffin MSP

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that police stations across Lanarkshire, including in Bellshill, will be closed permanently to the public or have their hours reduced from 1 April.

 

Jamie Greene MSP

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will make further changes to the draft Budget 2026-27 published in January in relation to business rates, hospices and the care sector. 

 

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 5 February 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

 

Rona Mackay MSP

To ask the First Minister how the new measures that the Scottish Government has announced to tackle long-term unemployment will support its work to grow Scotland’s economy.

 

Brian Whittle MSP

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reported warnings that a significant proportion of the medical workforce is experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout.

 

Rhoda Grant MSP

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure the long-term financial and operational stability of specialist domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

 

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 29th January 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

Willie Coffey

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government’s new national housing agency will support its work to deliver more affordable homes.

Liz Smith

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve transparency and accountability within NHS boards.

Clare Haughey

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government's launch of walk-in GP clinics will support its work to bring down waiting times and ensure everyone gets the care they need. 

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 22 January 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 15th January 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

Topics covered this week include:

Keith Brown

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update regarding the Scottish Government’s latest engagement with the UK Government in relation to the distribution of Local Growth Fund allocations in Scotland.

Douglas Ross

To ask the First Minister for what reason the Scottish Government is going to court to continue to allow it to house male prisoners in the female prison estate, in light of any projections it has made of the cost to taxpayers in Scotland of challenging the Supreme Court ruling in this way.

Pam Duncan-Glancy

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to findings published by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow indicating that a majority of clinicians anticipate practical challenges in implementing the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report

First Minister's Questions 8 January 2026

The First Minister answers questions from Party Leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time.

A full transcript of this week's First Minister's Questions will be available on the Scottish Parliament website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report