Presiding Officer says ‘status quo not an option’ amid parliamentary shake-up

New Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson has announced a shake-up to Scottish Parliament proceedings which will see First Minister’s Questions held twice a week.

Addressing MSPs, Gibson said parliament needed “renewal”, adding that the “collegiate working” envisaged prior to devolution had not come to pass.

He said: “Colleagues, as you know, I was elected on a mandate to shake up how we do things – make government more accountable to parliament, improve scrutiny and deliver more effectively for the people we represent.

“The collegiate working anticipated in the 90s, prior to devolution, has not fully transpired. The status quo is not an option and I’m keen to push at the boundaries of what’s possible within my remit.”

Gibson announced a series of changes including plans to hold First Minister’s Questions twice a week – once on a Tuesday for backbenchers and on a Thursday for party leaders.

He said questions for the first minister would no longer be published in advance and all would be taken from the floor.

The first question during the Thursday FMQs will alternate between Labour and Reform, who returned the same number of MSPs at the election. They and the Greens will be entitled to ask the first minister three questions, while the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will get two.

And he said general questions would increase from eight to 18 per week.

Gibson said an increase in the number of questions would help increase scrutiny of the government.

“We want this parliament to be more impactful and effective,” Gibson said.

Extra time will be given during debates to encourage MSPs to take more interventions without limiting their own speaking time - though he urged members to keep interventions "short and sharp". 

Speaking time will also be adjusted “according to the interest and experience of individual members,” he added.

Elections for membership of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body took place earlier in the afternoon. Maggie Chapman, Jackie Dunbar, Pauline McNeill, Liam McArthur, Stephen Kerr and Graham Simpson were all appointed.

This body looks after budgets, staffing, accommodation and security arrangements for the parliament. It is chaired by the presiding officer.

Scottish Labour business manager Neil Bibby said: “Scottish Labour is committed to being the credible opposition Scotland deserves and holding the SNP government to account.

“In the past we have seen a culture of secrecy and arrogance in the SNP and the Scottish Parliament must be equipped to tackle that.  

“It is right that the parliament is working to strengthen accountability and create more opportunities for scrutiny.

“Scottish Labour will continue to work to make sure John Swinney and the SNP deliver on their promises, focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland and answer for their failures.”