Holyrood to Hold First Minister's Questions Twice Weekly Starting June

The new presiding officer announced that First Minister's Questions will take place twice a week starting 8 June. A 30-minute session on Tuesdays will be reserved for backbenchers, while a separate 30-minute session on Thursdays will be for party leaders. The party fielding the first three questions as the main opposition will alternate each week between Labour and Reform UK Scotland.

The Greens will receive three questions, while the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will each receive two. The presiding officer said questions to the first minister will no longer be published ahead of time. Opposition members have previously said advance notice reduced accountability and produced scripted answers.

General and portfolio questions will rise from 32 to 38. The presiding officer said the increase will improve scrutiny of ministers and encourage them to perform effectively. Time taken for interventions during speeches will be added automatically to the speaker's allotted time.

The presiding officer noted this change may cause sessions to run over, as has happened before. The presiding officer said the changes follow a mandate to make government more accountable to parliament and improve scrutiny. He stated that the status quo is not an option and that parliament needs renewal and re-engagement with independent leadership.

The presiding officer said the collegiate working anticipated before devolution has not fully developed. He added that he plans to push boundaries within his remit to declutter and simplify procedures.