First Minister's Questions


First Minister's Questions is the name given to the weekly questioning of the leaders of devolved administrations in the United Kingdom. First Minister's Questions works in a similar way to Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

Scotland

First Minister's Questions is the name given to Question Time in the Scottish Parliament, in the course of which the First Minister of Scotland spends from 12.00pm each Thursday for 40 minutes that the parliament is in session answering questions from Members of the Scottish Parliament. There are additional sessions during the Parliamentary week at which other ministers are called upon to answer subject-specific and general questions. The present format involves the leader of the largest opposition party asking the First Minister six questions, with the leaders of the two next largest opposition party asking two questions. Other members within the chamber may ask a single question, should time permit.

Previous leaders involved in First Minister's Questions

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is taken jointly by the First Minister and deputy First Minister. This power-sharing arrangement is to enable the leaders of the main unionist and nationalist parties to work together in the Executive Office. Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are allowed half an hour to put questions to the ministers. The questions are tabled in advance by the MLAs.

Wales

In Wales, the Senedd holds First Minister's Questions. Members of the Senedd have up to forty-five minutes to question the Welsh First Minister on issues regarding the responsibilities of the Welsh Government. The session was initially titled First Secretary's Questions, and was renamed when the position of First Secretary for Wales was renamed to First Minister in 2000. The first session took place on 19 May 1999.