Podcasts By The Scottish Parliament

We talk with Ariane Burgess MSP, Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee about the committee's Housing Inquiry. A year on from the official declaration of the national housing emergency by the Scottish Parliament, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee say a Housing Emergency Action Plan with clear milestones and outcomes would ensure progress towards ending...

First Minister John Swinney MSP answers questions from party leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time. Questions included: Kevin Stewart  To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to water scarcity alerts issued by SEPA for the east of Scotland, in light of low rainfall and warm temperatures.  Brian Whittle To ask the First Minister, in light of the publicatio...

Listen back to FMQs. Questions this week included:  Jackie Dunbar To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy of the EY ITEM Club Spring Forecast, which downgraded expectations for UK output over the next two years. Edward Mountain To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported high demand for neurodeve...

The First Minister takes questions from MSPs.

Listen back to FMQs. Questions this week included:  Kevin Stewart   To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reported comments made by the chair of the North Sea Transition Task Force that the North Sea’s future should be a “national mission”. Stephen Kerr To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding what...

Listen back to FMQs. Questions this week included:  Kenneth Gibson To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government’s Spring Statement. Murdo Fraser To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce waiting times for children and adolescents for the diagnosis of autism and ADHD. Mercedes Villalba To ask the First Minister wha...

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP and First Minister John Swinney MSP make a statement to Parliament following the death of Christina McKelvie MSP. 

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included:  Michelle Thomson  To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recent UK Living Standards Review 2025, from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy. Rachael Hamilton  To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking En...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included:  Christine Grahame To ask the First Minister, regarding any potential impact on planning legislation in Scotland, what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the UK Government has proposed giving people living near power infrastructure hundreds of pounds off their bills each year. Jamie Greene To ask the First Minister what steps th...

In this SPICe seminar Professor Luke March, Personal Chair of Post-Soviet and Comparative Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Professor Peter Jackson, Chair in Global Security at the University of Glasgow explore the current geopolitical situation in relation to Ukraine. We look to explain:  Russia’s approach to Ukraine and what that might also mean for countries in Eastern Europe; The int...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included:  Marie McNair  To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will mark International Women’s Day, and its theme of "Accelerating Action" to reach gender equality. Annie Wells To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to tackle the reported rising number of cases of drug-driving. Foysol Choudhury To ask the First Mini...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included: Michael Matheson MSP To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recent study by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit regarding the contribution of the net zero sector to the UK and Scotland’s economy. Brian Whittle MSP To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support farm...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included: Clare Adamson  To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the recent Labour Market Outlook survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development on UK business confidence.   Pam Gosal  To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government’s plans to update the School Premises (...

Is Scotland’s salmon farming industry on a sustainable path? In this episode, we hear from Finlay Carson MSP, Convener of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, and Deputy Convener Beatrice Wishart MSP as they discuss the findings of the Committee’s latest report. With calls for stronger regulation, more research and urgent action from the Scottish Government, they outline what needs to change t...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included: Rona Mackay To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government’s work to keep The Promise, in light of the fifth anniversary of it being made. Douglas Lumsden To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Court of Session’s decision regarding the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw g...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included: Kevin Stewart  To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the recent CBI report, which reportedly suggests that businesses are preparing to “cut staff and raise prices”. Jackson Carlaw  To ask the First Minister whether he will join HM The King and other world leaders in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the libera...

Listen back to FMQs! Questions this week included: Christine Graham To ask the First Minister, in light of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President, and the reported prospect of import tariffs, what sectors of Scottish business it anticipates may be most affected. Meghan Gallacher To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to address concerns regarding waiting t...

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 wi...

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 o...

Listen back to this week's FMQs! This week: Christine Grahame asked whether the Scottish Government will encourage the public not to buy puppies or dogs during the festive period, in light of the reported possibility that these may be the product of irresponsible breeders, including illegal puppy farms; Sandesh Gulhane  what steps the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported annou...

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...

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...

The First Minister covers a range of topics at this weekly question time. 

First Minster John Swinney MSP takes questions from party leaders and other MSPs in this weekly question time. Topics covered this week included, when the Scottish Government last met with Ineos or Petroineos to discuss the refinery at Grangemouth, and road safety.

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 f...