Contents
- General Question Time
- First Minister’s Question Time
- Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time
- Ministers and Junior Ministers
- Urgent Questions
- Parliamentary Bureau Motion
- Motion without Notice
- Decision Time
Ministers and Junior Ministers
The next item of business is consideration of motions S6M-08469 and S6M-08470, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on appointment of Scottish ministers and junior Scottish ministers. Members who wish to speak in the debate should press their request-to-speak buttons.
14:47
I ask Parliament to agree to the appointment of four new Scottish ministers and eight new junior Scottish ministers.
Before I go any further, I will take the opportunity to pay tribute to the ministers who are leaving the Government.
Keith Brown has been a key figure in the Scottish National Party Government for many years. Among his notable achievements, he has been a champion of the fair work agenda and has worked hard to support and reassure businesses in the wake of the Brexit referendum. His work on the upcoming criminal justice reform bill will make a sea change in the support that is available to victims of crime. I also highlight his admirable work on behalf of our armed services veterans and their families.
Ben Macpherson has served effectively in a number of posts over the past five years and has most recently played a key role in the continued roll-out of Scotland’s social security system. He has covered a wide range of portfolios, which is testament to the breadth of his experience.
Clare Haughey has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children and young people. She was the driving force behind the Government’s efforts to support those who have been affected by the cruel historical practice of forced adoption, which culminated in the formal apology by the former First Minister just last week.
Ivan McKee has relentlessly promoted Scotland as a place to do business and to invest. We all recognise, and pay tribute to, the key role that he played in helping our vital supply chains at the height of the global pandemic.
Meanwhile, as members will all have seen, Kate Forbes and I have spent quite a lot of time with each other in the past few weeks. Since the leadership contest ended, she and I have had some long chats about what contribution she could make to the new Government. Despite some suggestions to the contrary, those chats have—as she has said—been very cordial, very warm and very positive. What many people will not have seen is that, behind the scenes, as we travelled across the country, Kate, Ash Regan and I and our respective families got on far more happily than might have been suggested. Kate is a tremendously talented politician. I know that she will continue to make a formidable contribution to Parliament, in particular on behalf of her constituents. I am sorry to see her leave Government for now, but I have no doubt, and I sincerely hope, that she will return to ministerial office at some point soon.
There are two other departing Cabinet members to whom I must pay tribute. In Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland has had one of the most able and effective politicians across the UK in decades. For those of us who are following in her Cabinet footsteps, she has provided a master class in leadership.
John Swinney has been a rock in the Scottish Government since 2007, and behind the scenes he has always been a cool and wise head at the Cabinet table. Many of us have gone to him for advice—in fact, all of us in the Cabinet, I suspect—at one point or another.
When it comes to First Minister’s question time, Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney know all the tricks of the trade, so it is fair to say that I am slightly dreading the first week that I look at the Business Bulletin and see the name Sturgeon or Swinney in the list of back-bench questioners to come.
I wish Nicola, John and all the other departing ministers all the very best for the future. Needless to say, having such a formidable array of talent on the SNP back benches is an enormous asset for me and my Government.
I turn to the new appointments. I think that even the SNP’s harshest critics would agree that the ministerial team is very different from the one that it replaces. Of 28 ministerial posts, only six positions remain unchanged. The Cabinet that I am proposing will have 10 members—six women and four men. It will therefore have a higher proportion of women than the previous Scottish Cabinet. By average age, it will also be the youngest Cabinet that Scotland has ever had, with five members under the age of 40.
It is a fresh line-up for a new era of Government and, as we look to the challenges of the future, it is very much a changing of the guard. The balance of portfolios reflects the key priority areas that I have set, which are: protecting people from the cost crisis; enabling our NHS and public services to recover; supporting a net zero wellbeing economy; and improving the life chances of people the length and breadth of the country.
First, although her appointment does not require approval, I am delighted that Shona Robison has agreed to serve as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance. In her long years in Government, Shona has, for example, been a driving force behind delivery of the Commonwealth games, and as the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport she championed the interests of both patients and staff. Most recently, she delivered a significant roll-out of the game-changing Scottish child payment. Shona will bring her experience and skills to her new role, in which she will not only be responsible for the budget and taxation, but will have important cross-governmental responsibilities for delivering on our key priorities. I know that she will prove to be a very worthy successor to John Swinney.
Shona Robison will, naturally, work very closely with Neil Gray, whom I appoint as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. For a number of years, Neil served as the SNP’s Westminster social justice spokesperson and took a leading role on issues such as employment, fair work and pensions. Most recently, as a Scottish Government minister, he worked on our Ukraine resettlement programme with partners in local government, the third sector and the UK Government. Neil will undoubtedly bring the same levels of energy and effectiveness to the work of supporting our wellbeing economy.
That task, of course, goes hand in hand with our plans to achieve net zero, and Màiri McAllan will be at the forefront of those efforts as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition. I think that it is fair to say that by common consent Màiri has done sterling work as an environment minister, in ensuring greater protections for our natural environment. She is a passionate advocate for a just transition at home and for climate justice overseas, and I know that she will be a huge asset to the Government in her new role.
I am also seeking Parliament’s approval for the appointment of Jenny Gilruth as a cabinet secretary. Being Minister for Transport is a tough brief—I know that only too well—but Jenny has overseen the taking into public ownership of ScotRail and has driven further progress on decarbonisation of our transport system. Before entering politics, Jenny was a secondary school teacher, which I know will stand her in very good stead as Scotland’s next Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.
Finally, I have asked Angela Constance to be Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. Angela brings significant ministerial experience to the role. Most recently, she has worked tirelessly to reduce drug deaths in Scotland. That will continue to be a central priority for the Government. Before entering politics, Angela worked at the front line of our criminal justice system, as a prison social worker. I have no doubt that the depth of her experience will be of huge value as she takes forward the Government’s justice reforms.
Those Cabinet appointments require parliamentary approval. In addition, I have reappointed a number of existing cabinet secretaries. Michael Matheson will have responsibility for national health service recovery, health and social care. As a former occupational therapist and a highly effective minister—he was a health minister earlier in his political career—Michael is well placed to take on what is a crucial role for the Government.
I am very pleased that Shirley-Anne Somerville will lead on social justice, which is a central priority for the Government.
Angus Robertson will continue as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Mairi Gougeon will remain at rural affairs.
I turn to the junior ministerial appointments for which I seek the Parliament’s approval. Again, there are a number of new faces. Siobhian Brown has performed admirably as convener of the Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee. I have asked her to support Angela Constance, as Minister for Victims and Community Safety.
Since being elected, Jenni Minto has been an exceptionally active member of the Parliament, having contributed to the work of three committees and no fewer than 15 cross-party groups. I know that she will bring a similar work ethic to the role of Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.
As convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, Natalie Don has brought a laser-like focus to one of the Parliament’s most important priorities, which is supporting people who need it most. She will continue to do that in her new role as Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise.
Meanwhile, Natalie Don’s deputy convener, Emma Roddick, will become Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees. Emma will also, I think, become the youngest-ever minister to be appointed to the Scottish Government. However, she has proved that she is more than ready for that responsibility.
Paul McLennan is set to become Minister for Housing. He brings a significant and varied range of professional and political experience to his new post, including through his role in local government and his time on the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.
Gillian Martin will become the new Minister for Energy. Before she became an MSP in the north-east of Scotland, she spent many years working in our vital oil and gas industry.
Elsewhere in the team, Joe FitzPatrick has substantial previous experience as a minister. I am pleased that he has agreed to return, as Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning.
Graeme Dey was also an excellent minister, previously. He will return to Government with responsibilities for further and higher education. He will also resume his previous role as Minister for Veterans.
A number of current junior ministers will remain in Government. Some will remain in existing portfolios; others will move to new portfolios. In particular, in line with the Bute house agreement, I am pleased that Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater will continue in their ministerial roles. The partnership between my party and the Scottish Green Party has brought significant benefit to the Government in Scotland—[Interruption.]—but also to our country as a whole, and the fact that that upsets some members so much tells me that those are absolutely the right appointments to make. [Interruption.]
Thank you, members.
Presiding Officer, the team that I present to Parliament combines fresh talent with proven ability. That team will help Scotland to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges that are before us. I assure members that each member of that team is ready and eager to get on with the work of delivering for the people of this country.
It therefore gives me great pleasure to move,
That the Parliament agrees that Jenny Gilruth, Màiri McAllan, Neil Gray and Angela Constance be appointed as Scottish Ministers.
That the Parliament agrees that Joe FitzPatrick, Jenni Minto, Natalie Don, Graeme Dey, Gillian Martin, Emma Roddick, Paul McLennan and Siobhian Brown be appointed as junior Scottish Ministers.
14:58
On behalf of the Opposition, I congratulate the First Minister and his new ministerial team. Humza Yousaf has made history, this week, and we offer him our very best wishes.
If the Parliament confirms his Administration today, I say “Good luck” to his new ministers, because judging by his performance at First Minister’s question time they are certainly going to need it.
In particular, I welcome Shona Robison to the role of Deputy First Minister. Our country is now run by a woman who represents Dundee and a man who lives there. I say to the First Minister that it is a long way from Broughty Ferry to Bute house.
I do not know what experience the First Minister has of assembling flat-pack furniture, but I think that even Christine Grahame would have been surprised at just how quickly his Cabinet fell apart the other day. Mr Yousaf said that he wanted to build a Cabinet and a Government “of all the talents”, yet this translates—[Interruption.]. This translates into Kate Forbes leaving the Government while Lorna Slater is welcomed back into his ministerial team.
At the time for division, we will not support the formation of this new Government, which includes a Minister for Independence, who, in a cost of living crisis, will be earning £100,000 a year. [Interruption.] This is a Cabinet and a Government that are cast in Humza Yousaf’s image—failed continuity ministers appointed by a failed continuity First Minister. [Interruption.]
Excuse me. Can we hear only the member who is standing up to speak. Do continue, Mr Hoy.
While we are talking about image, I say that I have noticed that there is something a little bit different about the First Minister this week. Is it the hair? Is it the suit? I think and sense that there is a make-over in the making. We know that Humza Yousaf likes to dress for the occasion—[Interruption.]—with a ScotRail hat when he is driving a train, surgical scrubs when he is in a hospital and a hard hat when he is on a building site. Some in the press gallery have likened him to Mr Bean, but it is increasingly clear that he is not like Mr Bean, but is like Mr Benn. Those of us who are old enough will remember that Mr Benn had many costumes. [Interruption.]
Thank you, members.
Mr Benn emerged as a zoo keeper, a pirate and, of course, a clown.
As the First Minister assembled his new Government, there was soul searching among some longer-serving SNP MSPs—the dispossessed and the never possessed, including Emma Harper, Willie Coffey, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, James Dornan, John Mason and, of course, Kenny Gibson. They were all scratching their heads and asking how someone with such obvious limitations had reached the highest office in the land, especially when they have failed to reach the first rung on the ministerial ladder. Sadly, there is no room in the First Minister’s Government for his leadership rival, Ash Regan, who has been snubbed and is, no doubt, reconsidering where she would like to stick her independence thermometer.
Looking to the back benches, I note the absence of the former First Minister. She will, however, be a very powerful back-seat driver. I remind the First Minister that Nicola Sturgeon is taking driving lessons, so I hope that he does not get too comfortable behind the wheel. I hope that when she passes her test—as, I am sure, she will—the First Minister will be the first to offer his congratulations, and to remind her of the importance of car insurance.
Scotland’s new First Minister cannot simply airbrush away the criticisms that have been levelled by his colleagues. Kate Forbes was correct that “Continuity won’t cut it”, but it is continuity that runs through the core of his Cabinet. The only substantive change is in relation to national health service recovery, which is a frank admission of the failure of the previous holder of that office.
To govern is to choose. Humza—[Interruption.].
Members: It is “Humza”, not “Hoomza”!
Humza Yousaf wants to be the first activist. [Interruption.]
Try again!
He wants to be the first activist. [Interruption.]
Let us hear Mr Hoy.
At the same time, he wants to be the First Minister for all of Scotland, but he cannot be both. He has to be one or the other. We all know that tough choices will have to be made by his Government, but I fear that this SNP-Green coalition is no more than more of the same—the same misplaced priorities and the same failed ministers.
Although, for the sake of the country, we wish this Government well, we will not vote for it today.
15:03
On behalf of Scottish Labour, I welcome colleagues who are new to their places on the Government benches. I give a special mention to Natalie Don, who I believe will make history by becoming the first former Gryffe high school pupil to become a minister; I hope that she is not the last. I am sincere in wishing them all well.
On Monday, team Humza was disbanded, and we were promised that we would get team SNP today. However, I have to say that it looks an awful lot like team Humza. Despite the fact that more than 40 per cent of SNP MSPs will now be ministers, we in fact have more Green ministers in this Government than ministers who, in the end, publicly backed Kate Forbes or Ash Regan.
The top of the ticket looks a lot like team Nicola without Nicola. We have Michael Matheson as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care—presumably to help the health service recover from the actions of the former health secretary.
The Government is also now without Kate Forbes, Ivan McKee, Ben Macpherson, Clare Haughey and even the SNP’s deputy leader, Keith Brown. I wish them all well on the back benches—there is life after ministerial office.
Despite those departures, we now have the biggest devolved Government ever, with 28 ministers. A ministerial salary bill of nearly £3 million per year will now be footed by the taxpayer. Scottish Labour will oppose the appointments when we vote on them. To be clear, that is not because of personal objection to any individual but because we believe that the change that Scotland needs is not bigger government but better government. We do not believe that the public will have confidence in replacing the most incompetent and wasteful Administration in the history of devolution with an even bigger one.
However, we recognise that those ministers will be appointed today, and will be charged with both responsibility and opportunity—which I hope they will grasp. That is because, today, after 5,810 days of the SNP having been in power, so many people in Scotland need them to do their jobs. They include: the children and young people who hope for a better life but fear that their potential will not be realised; the older people and the ill who live with chronic conditions, who find that our health service just does not have the time and resources to help them; the vulnerable people who live with drug problems, who see others dying around them, in higher numbers than in any other part of Europe; the hard-working people who do difficult jobs and who, at the end of their shifts, somehow still struggle to make ends meet; and the islanders who are just looking for ferries and not another ferries minister. I wish the ministers well. Their predecessors have bequeathed them an overflowing in-tray.
However, why are we here if we do not believe that we can do something about that? Scottish Labour members will work with ministers on the issues that I have mentioned, provided that they are prepared to roll up their sleeves and want to find practical solutions to Scottish problems. The question is: will they? The truth is that, today, Scotland stands at a crossroads. The Salmond and Sturgeon era is over, and there is an opportunity for something different and something better. Will this be a continuity Cabinet, or will the SNP have a group of people in office who are not prepared to accept mediocrity? Too many of those ministers’ predecessors failed because their first loyalty was to the cause and not to the people of Scotland. They sought to exploit Scotland’s problems rather than fix them. That approach was not only wrong; it failed to deliver independence, and it failed the people of this country.
Presiding Officer, we are not naive. SNP ministers will still be united by a belief that independence is the best constitutional settlement for Scotland. I disagree, but I recognise their conviction. However, I also hope that they recognise that, in this moment, we should make the Parliament work for the Scottish people. Nicola Sturgeon can celebrate her eight election victories and her record as Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister; those are great achievements. Yet, I believe that she will come to regret the road not taken: putting Government and Parliament to work as a policy engine that can deliver real change for Scots.
One of those not being appointed today recently said, “Continuity won’t cut it.” We agree. People in Scotland are hungry for change. Scottish Labour is hungry for change. I hope that the ministers who are appointed today are, too.
15:08
I congratulate Humza Yousaf on his appointment as First Minister. As a health spokesperson, I have enjoyed working with him and hope that the incoming health team will be as good to work with as he was.
I thank all those who are departing the Cabinet and ministerial office, who have worked with us constructively over the past 18 months. We hugely value their contribution to our collective work
Obviously, I am delighted to see Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater being reappointed. The Bute house agreement has shown what we can achieve through collaborative politics and has seen key Green policies being put at the heart of Government. I look forward to their getting stuck into unfinished business, including: delivering permanent rent controls; creating our next national park; launching our desperately needed deposit return scheme; rolling out record-breaking funding for nature restoration and active travel; and, of course, releasing more beavers into Scottish wetlands.
No one will be surprised to hear how relieved I am that I get to keep George Adam with me in the Parliamentary Bureau. Not only has he provided me with a lot of support; I would not wish our terrible chat on anyone else.
I cannot gloss over Emma Roddick’s appointment. She has absolutely smashed everything that she has turned her hand to. I say to her, “Well done. Yer mammy would be proud.”
After the outrage that was expressed at First Minister’s questions earlier today, I am sure that Jamie Hepburn is looking forward to seeing who the Opposition parties will appoint as their shadow minister for independence. [Interruption.] I am sure that there will either be queues out the door or the post will be used as the party naughty step.
Congratulations to each and every one of the ministerial team, whether this is their first time or whether they are moving to a new role. This is a fresh start in government, but we are already seeing the same old rhetoric creeping in from other parties. I was hopeful that we could come to a place of agreeing that we need to elevate the debate that we have had over the past couple of weeks by disagreeing on the substance, not the people. We correctly call out the abuse that members receive on social media and agree that it is terrible but then go right back to lobbing the same personal attacks and insults.
We also rightly praised ourselves at the start of this session of Parliament for doing better on making the Parliament more representative of the outside world. This is the first female-majority Cabinet and the first Muslim First Minister; it is a Cabinet that has young politicians and the youngest member of this chamber as a minister. Every international women’s day, we say that we need to encourage women into politics, and more people who have different experiences from ours. How on earth are we going to do that when we are calling people “flops” or “B-list” before their names are even on the office door—before they have had a chance to pass even one policy? Can we please think and practise what we preach? By all means, scrutinise and debate where things have gone wrong, but members should talk about the ideas and argue why theirs are better, not why they believe that someone is any of the things that have been attributed to members of this Parliament in recent weeks.
I say to all the new ministers and cabinet secretaries that, with the Bute house agreement, we are here to offer constructive input and help to push them further. We are also here to support them. We have achieved a lot, but there is so much more to do: delivering a full ban on conversion practices and bringing in safe access zones around abortion clinics; developing the bold new climate plan that we desperately need if we are to have any chance of tackling the climate emergency; and beginning the long, slow task of restoring our land and seas through highly protected marine areas and nature restoration work. We are a team that is working on making Scotland better, and we have made progress on that over the past 18 months of the agreement. I know that all their families and friends will be so proud of them all and I cannot wait to see what we achieve together.
15:12
It is a great thing to serve your country in any way, but especially through ministerial office, so I will take a moment to congratulate those who have been so elevated and I offer thanks for the service of those leaving office today. Although we will not support the appointments, for reasons that I will come on to, I bear none of the appointees personal animosity. It is important to state that, given the eloquent words of Gillian Mackay.
Nicola Sturgeon was right to appoint a dedicated mental health minister in 2016. It was done at the request of my party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats. However, that focus was downgraded in 2021, when the minister was asked to cover social care, too. Is it any wonder that we have seen record delayed discharges and the mess that is the plan for a ministerial takeover of social care? Mental health is being further downgraded today because now sport is being added to that portfolio—another responsibility, which is hugely important in its own right. Mental health deserves better than to be sandwiched and squeezed between those other two portfolios.
We have just heard from Anas Sarwar in First Minister’s question time about children waiting longer for care and treatment than Humza Yousaf served as health secretary—that is shocking. There is so much unmet need out there and mental health treatment targets have never been achieved—not once—for either children or adults since they were introduced in 2014. Nicola Sturgeon, Shona Robison, Jeane Freeman, Maureen Watt, Clare Haughey, Kevin Stewart and, yes, Humza Yousaf all talked a good game on mental health in this chamber, but none of them ever met their promise to the children and adults waiting years to be seen and, this winter, they cut £50 million from mental health—apparently oblivious to the crisis at our doors. By their actions shall you know them.
Is it any wonder that this Government is failing Scotland on mental health when there is no dedicated champion for mental health at the heart of Government to make the case for more investment and more staff?
There could have been a dedicated mental health minister, who would be a champion for the thousands of Scots who are waiting. Instead, the First Minister has expanded his ministerial team—which, as we have heard, is the biggest in the devolution era—to create an office for the Minister for Independence. That will take time, money and energy, as well as a team of expert civil servants who could have been focusing on mental health. Remember, Humza Yousaf made a personal promise to clear mental health waiting lists by this March. Look at the calendar: we are here, and the SNP is nowhere.
Humza Yousaf said that he would be a leader for all of Scotland, but I do not see any evidence that he will be a First Minister for the people who are waiting for care and treatment. The appointment of a Minister for Independence is an insult to the thousands of people who the nationalists have failed. It is proof of the disconnect between the governing party’s focus and the needs and interests of the country. The Scottish Liberal Democrats would reverse the cuts and re-establish a dedicated mental health minister. We would create mental health beds for young people in all parts of Scotland, when there are no beds north of Dundee. We would ramp up training so that every workplace can benefit from a mental health first aider. That is how the Liberal Democrats would create a properly funded, world-beating system to tackle Scotland’s mental health crisis. That is a blueprint that shows what fresh thinking could achieve, why we need a change in Government and why it is essential that the Liberal Democrats are part of what is next.
Although we oppose the ministerial team’s appointment this afternoon, I wish them good fortune, not least because we all have to live here and we all have to deal with the consequences of their decisions. I ask the ministers to make good choices. As Abraham Lincoln said,
“Put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
That said, it is okay to get things wrong, but have the grace to admit when you are wrong and to listen to the voices from beyond members on your party benches that may offer a pathway through.
15:16
I can be relatively brief in my response. I say to Craig Hoy that a good start might be to know my name: it is Humza Yousaf, not “Hoomza” Yousaf. Thorough preparation such as that probably tells members why he is languishing on the Opposition benches. There have been lots of calls from across the chamber to bring back Jackson Carlaw; I saw that he was busy looking at his shoes at that point.
On a more serious point, during my time in the Parliament, I have often had people like Craig Hoy telling me that I am not good enough. They told me that when I became the first person of colour to win a constituency seat, they told me that when I became the first person of colour to be in government, and they told me that when I became the first person of colour to be appointed to Cabinet—so I am not surprised that they told me that when I became the first person of colour to be the First Minister of Scotland. It is because I do not listen to people like Craig Hoy on the Conservative benches that I have been able to achieve what I have.
Neil Bibby was right to emphasise the need to work together in the national interest. Where there are constructive ideas, he will find that Government’s door and my door will always be open and that we can come together. Where there are good ideas—I say that not just for when we are discussing the budget, but for any Government portfolio area—he will find that my door is open.
Gillian Mackay made the best speech of the afternoon, and I was delighted to hear her point about corrosive political discourse. We have all made statements about the corrosive nature of political debate. Our co-operation with the Green Party is a good demonstration of how we can do grown-up politics. The Green Party is our partner and it pushes us to go further, although we sometimes push back. However, we will make sure that we work in the spirit of co-operation for what is in the best interests of the country.
I am sorry that Alex Cole-Hamilton cannot see a link between social care, mental wellbeing and sport. We speak to many of our sporting organisations about the great work that they do to help and aid those who have mental health challenges. He will see that there is a natural linkage on many of those issues, which includes social care. It is quite something to be told by the smallest party in Parliament that we need to reflect the priorities of the people a little better.
I thank Opposition members for their remarks. This is a significant reshuffle, and the new team is very much a changing of the guard. I know that we have had a few laughs this afternoon, even at our expense, but everyone here agrees that, when the dust settles, all of the appointments have an exceptionally important job to do. I am sure that all members will wish them well in their new posts. On behalf of all ministers, I promise that we will do our best to work constructively with MSPs to deliver for the people whom we all represent. I hope that Parliament backs my motions today so that we can get down to work.
There are two questions to be put. The first question is, that motion S6M-08469, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the First Minister’s appointment of Scottish ministers, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members: No.
There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
15:20 Meeting suspended.15:23 On resuming—
We move to the division on motion S6M-08469, in the name of Humza Yousaf. Members should cast their votes now.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
The vote is closed.
Pam Duncan-Glancy has a point of order.
I am sorry, Presiding Officer—I was too early there. The app would not connect. I would have voted no.
Thank you, Ms Duncan-Glancy. We will ensure that that is recorded.
For
Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
Against
Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Cameron, Donald (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)
The result of the division on motion S6M-08469, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the appointment of Scottish ministers, is: For 71, Against 56, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that Jenny Gilruth, Màiri McAllan, Neil Gray and Angela Constance be appointed as Scottish Ministers.
The next question is, that motion S6M-08470, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the First Minister’s appointment of Scottish junior ministers, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members: No.
There will be a division.
For
Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
Against
Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Cameron, Donald (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)
The result of the division on motion S6M-08470, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the appointment of Scottish junior ministers, is: For 71, Against 56, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that Joe FitzPatrick, Jenni Minto, Natalie Don, Graeme Dey, Gillian Martin, Emma Roddick, Paul McLennan and Siobhian Brown be appointed as junior Scottish Ministers.
As the Parliament has agreed to the First Minister’s recommendations, he may now invite His Majesty to approve the appointments.
I will allow a moment for members to take their seats for the next item of business and I ask members who are leaving the chamber to do so quietly.