Podcasts By The Scottish Parliament

First Minister's Questions 16 January 2025

Listen back to this week's FMQs! This week:

• Jackie Dunbar 

  To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential economic impact of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners' reported £800 million investment in battery energy storage sites in Scotland.

• Edward Mountain 

  To ask the First Minister, in light of the rise in the number of people under 50 being diagnosed with bowel cancer, what proposals the Scottish Government has to extend the national bowel screening programme to those under 50 years old.

• Claire Baker 

  To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is responding to reports that 182 sexual assaults, including rapes, have taken place in hospitals in the last five years.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 09 January 2025

Listen back to this week's FMQs! This week:

• Clare Haughey - To ask the First Minister, in light of recent freezing temperatures, whether he will provide an update on what steps the Scottish Government is taking to support low-income households with their energy bills.

• Liz Smith -To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is regarding the latest reported concerns on the use of Hikvision CCTV devices by local authorities in Scotland.

• Maggie Chapman - To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the effectiveness of the National Planning Framework 4 principles in creating sustainable places across Scotland that enhance human and environmental wellbeing.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 12 December

Listen back to this week's FMQs! This week:

• Michelle Thomson asked the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to bring forward legislation to criminalise non-fatal strangulation;
• Liz Smith asked what discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authorities regarding the reported impending closure of library facilities across Scotland;
• and Pam Duncan-Glancy asked the First Minister about reported comments from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland that “children are being let down” by an education system that needs “radical reform”.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 5 December 2024

First Minster John Swinney MSP takes questions from party leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time. Topics covered this week included, Scottish Government's position regarding any potential risk to the environment of excessive removal of peat during excavation projects; What efforts the Scottish Government is making to establish the country as a world leader in the green hydrogen sector.

First Minister's Questions 14 November 2024

First Minster John Swinney MSP takes questions from party leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time. Topics covered this week included, smart electricity meters in Scotland, Scottish Government's response to reports that its spending on private consultants has almost doubled in the space of five years and the Scottish Government's response to reported concerns that its proposed formula for calculating rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will require above-inflation rent rises for hundreds of thousands of renters, thus not tackling unaffordable rents.

First Minister's Questions 7 November 2024

First Minster John Swinney MSP takes questions from party leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time. Topics covered this week included, young people's digital skills, funding to complete the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness and what plans the Scottish Government has to end the reported increase in families in the Central Belt living in temporary accommodation.

First Minister's Questions 03 October 2024

The First Minister takes questions from Members during FMQs. 

Topics covered this week included alcohol related deaths, and teacher numbers in Scotland. 

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 26 September 2024

The First Minister takes questions from Members during FMQs. 

Topics covered this week included energy bill reduction, embedding domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms and the numbers of young people involved in violent crime.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 19 September 2024

The First Minister takes questions from Members during FMQs. 

Topics covered this week included junk food advertising, Transport Scotland's consultancy fees and the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament 

First Minister's Questions 05 September 2024

The First Minister takes questions from Douglas Ross MSP, Anas Sarwar MSP and other Members during FMQs.

Transcripts are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/what-was-said-and-official-reports/what-was-said-in-parliament/