Summary

  • Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes fields questions as John Swinney represents Scotland at ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings

  • Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross urges the SNP to make it clear if it will back new North Sea oil and gas licences

  • Forbes says the Scottish government believes in a "just transition" for workers and the industry

  • Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie, standing in for Anas Sarwar who is also attending a D-Day event, raises the issue of unspent EU funding

  • The SNP's deputy first minister says the final outcome for expenditure will not be known until the scheme closes in 2025 and to "have spent all the money in advance would raise questions in itself"

  • Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton focuses on the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell and a subsequent FAI which concluded that police errors led to the tragedy

  • Forbes says lessons had been learned but the solicitor general was happy to come to the chamber to answer questions more fully

  • Earlier, Douglas Ross announced he was standing in the general election after the party effectively de-selected David Duguid

  1. FMQs: The headlinespublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 6 June

    Here are the headlines that emerged during this week's FMQs.

    • Kate Forbes was standing in for John Swinney who is in France for D-Day commemorations
    • The deputy first minister joined Douglas Ross, Jackie Baillie and Alex Cole-Hamilton in paying tribute to veterans and those who died during the landings
    • The Scottish Tory leader claimed the Scottish government had a presumption against any new oil and gas licences
    • Forbes hit back arguing licensing must be compatible with climate commitments
    • The deputy first minister also claimed the Tories had "betrayed" David Duguid, who was effectively de-selected as an election candidate in the north east
    • Baillie, standing in for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who is attending a D-Day event in Glasgow, said it was a "scandal" £500m dedicated to addressing poverty across Scotland will be handed back to the EU
    • Forbes said the final outcome for expenditure will not be known until 2025 and the government's commitment remained to "spend as much of the money as possible"
    • Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton criticised the length of time the M9 crash victims' fatal accident inquiry had taken and the "botched centralisation" of the police that contributed to the tragedy
    • Forbes said the solicitor general was willing to come to Holyrood to answer questions on the issues raised

    That's all from us this week. Mary McCool was today's editor. The writers were Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Craig Hutchison.

  2. The energy industry is wincing at binary debatespublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 6 June

    Kevin Keane
    BBC Scotland environment correspondent

    Another ding-dong between two senior politicians over oil and gas which relies on sharp soundbites but ignores all of the nuance.

    In fact the energy industry winces at such binary debates where parties position themselves as the only ones who will protect the north east's biggest industry.

    But what's advocated by both sides will be necessary in spades if Aberdeen's economy is to have a long-term future.

    Demand for oil and gas isn't going to disappear overnight and so the existing industry feels it deserves continued support to keep the lights on.

    But its workers also want to see significant investment in alternative industries like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage to secure the long term future.

    Because oil production peaked a quarter of a century ago and the industry's own figures suggest the sector is already shrinking by 5% a year, every year.

  3. Forbes insists the government is taking action to support rural GPspublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 6 June

    Tess White MSP stands at a lectern wearing a bright blue suit jacket and white blouse with black polka dots, she is looking down towards the lectern at papers as she speaksImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Tory MSP Tess White asks how the Scottish government will prevent further GP practice closures, in light of reports that the number of surgeries has declined in every NHS board since 2015.

    "We remain fully committed to increasing the number of GPs in Scotland by 800 by 2027," replies Kate Forbes.

    She flags up £190m of investment in primary care and she highlights a trend towards fewer but larger practices.

    White says the evidence is that GP services in rural Scotland are closing at more than twice the rate of central belt health boards.

    "We cannot afford to lose more surgeries," says the Tory MSP and she adds GPs are "at breaking time".

    The deputy first minster accepts there are distinct challenges when it comes to rural and island areas which is reflected in the budget.

    She also highlights the £10,000 golden hello scheme to attract GPs to rural practices and investing £1m into bursaries for GPs.

    The deputy first minister insists the government is taking action to support rural GPs.

  4. When will there be an update on national parks?published at 13:06 British Summer Time 6 June

    Mark Ruskell MSP wearing a navy suit and salmon pink tie, standing at a lectern speaking, looking to his left towards Kate Forbes. Green party co-leader Lorna Slater is seated behind his right shoulder.Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell asks Forbes the date the Scottish government will decide which of the national park nominations will be taken forward to the next stage.

    The deputy first minister acknowledges the deadline for areas to be considered for national park status was 29 February with applications from five areas received and an appraisal process began in March.

    The appraisal process concluded last week, says Forbes, and the minister for rural affairs, land reform and islands - Mairi Gougeon - will make recommendations "shortly".

  5. Summer update on short-term licensing schemepublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 6 June

    Christine Grahame MSP standing at a lectern, speaking, wearing a black cardigan, looking to her left towards Kate ForbesImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks whether the Scottish government will review the impact of the short-term licensing legislation, in light of the upcoming summer tourism season.

    Forbes says the scheme is aimed at ensuring tourists coming to Scotland have safe, high quality accommodation.

    She adds: "We are already undertaking planned monitoring of the legislation and we recently laid a statutory amendment which makes technical changes as a result of feedback."

    Forbes says parliament will be updated in the summer of the schemes implementation.

  6. 'Solicitor general can answer questions on A9 crash'published at 12:58 British Summer Time 6 June

    Lamara Bell and John Yuill

    Kate Forbes begins by expressing her "deepest sympathies" to the families and friends of Lamara Bell and John Yuill.

    The deputy first minister says the former justice secretary was clear in offering "our deepest apologies" and the former chief constable has also unreservedly apologised to the families.

    She adds a fatal accident inquiry found that lessons have been learned and the public should have confidence in Police Scotland.

    She says the solicitor general is happy to come to the chamber to answer questions more fully.

  7. Cole-Hamilton raises M9 crash victim's FAIpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 6 June

    Alex Cole-HamiltonImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Alex Cole-Hamilton also begins by commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day and pays tribute to the veterans.

    The Scottish Lib Dem leader turns to the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell who were found inside their car after it crashed down an embankment off the M9.

    He points out his party had been warning about the chaos in the call centre at Bilston Glen in the days before the tragedy.

    Cole-Hamilton criticises the "botched centralisation" of the police and the "intolerable wait for answers the family had to endure".

  8. Analysis

    Labour-SNP exchange was an electoral ding-dongpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 6 June

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The exchanges between Jackie Baillie and Kate Forbes descended into a real electoral ding-dong.

    Having originally characterised the election as a straight fight against the Conservatives, SNP has pivoted its campaign in the past week or so to focus far more on attacking Labour.

    The two parties are competing for the position of being the anti-Tory vote in Scotland, the best option for voters to kick out the UK government.

    That doesn’t mean the Tories aren’t involved in the rhetoric; instead, their rivals both try to paint each other as being too similar to them.

    Ms Forbes said Labour were “pretending to offer change while adopting Conservative budget rules”.

    Meanwhile Ms Baillie said the SNP’s approach was “straight out of the Tory playbook”.

    Amid this, any pretence that this was a debate about Holyrood issues or the work of government in Scotland was largely discarded.

  9. 'Air of hypocrisy' around Labour figures - Forbespublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 6 June

    Forbes argues that Scots crying out for change "are not going to get it with Labour - that is for sure."

    The deputy first minister says there is an "air of hypocrisy" around the figures quoted by Baillie.

    She says: "At the end of the day, Labour have to answer a question from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. They have said that Labour are effectively signing up to sharp spending cuts.

    "They need to have an answer to that and I've not heard one yet."

  10. Forbes claims Labour 'adopting Conservative budget rules'published at 12:48 British Summer Time 6 June

    Forbes returns that what is actually "indefensible" is the Labour party "pretending" to offer change and short-changing Scotland by adopting Conservative budget rules.

    She claims there are "profoundly difficult times ahead" if the Labour party continues to do so.

    The deputy first minister adds that when it comes to EU structural funds, the Scottish government looks at the projects across Scotland that have benefitted from it and that will be continued in order to tackle child poverty, grow the economy and meet net zero.

    Baillie says the response is "desperate" and that the Scottish people are "crying out for change" after 14 years of the Conservatives and 17 years of the SNP in government.

  11. SNP wasting taxpayers' money, says Bailliepublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 6 June

    Baillie says she wants to remind Forbes "as gently as possible" that she once oversaw claims for EU funding - "so I know how the claims work".

    She says: "I know the life-changing impact the money can have and I do not buy her [Forbes'] excuses for one second."

    The deputy Labour leader says it is "unforgiveable that the SNP are wasting tax payers' money", pointing to analysis by Scottish Labour today that claims the SNP has "wasted" £5bn since coming into office.

    She asks Forbes whether she can explain to the people of Scotland why the SNP are "wasting their money".

  12. We will spend as much of the money as possible, says Forbespublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 6 June

    The deputy first minister says the report Baillie referenced "could not find evidence for the £450m claim".

    Forbes says that the final outcome for expenditure will not be known until the programme formally closes in 2025 and to "have spent all the money in advance would raise questions itself".

    She adds the Scottish government does not expect the figures to differ much compared to the rest of the UK or previous programmes.

    Forbes says: "Our commitment is to spend as much of the money as possible."

  13. Labour turns to SNP handing back millions in EU fundingpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 6 June

    Jackie BaillieImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Jackie Baillie echoes the sentiments of Ross and Forbes by paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the D-Day landings.

    She questions the deputy first minister on behalf of Anas Sarwar, saying it is a "scandal" that £500m dedicated to addressing poverty across Scotland will be handed back to the EU by the Scottish government.

    This happened, she says, when Kate Forbes was finance secretary and called it demonstrative of "SNP financial incompetence".

    She adds: "Can the deputy first minister tell me how the SNP has made such a mess of this?"

  14. Analysis

    Oil and gas - more than a yes-or-no questionpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 6 June

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The oil and gas industry has become a key campaigning point for the Conservatives in this election campaign - in part because they have seats to defend in the north east of Scotland, but also because it’s an area where there are fairly clear dividing lines between the parties.

    Labour would not grant any new licences for exploration; the Conservatives would. Meanwhile the SNP do not oppose further licensing entirely, but say it must be compatible with climate obligations.

    The SNP’s position is a more nuanced one, which can make it a bit difficult during an election campaign of binary positions and short soundbites.

    Its leaders are repeatedly asked by Douglas Ross if they agree with new licences, “yes or no”.

    Kate Forbes insisted she was being “very clear”, but she followed John Swinney in a leaders debate on Monday in not having a straight yes or no answer.

    Forbes said her party would be led by the evidence, and support workers while also being mindful of the “just transition” to greener energy.

    Reality is often more nuanced than a black-or-white, yes-or-no question. But it’s also a bit more difficult to lay out on an election pledge card.

  15. Forbes insists SNP will back the north eastpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 6 June

    Ross says Humza Yousaf said it was not the right thing to grant 100 new licences and he insists John Swinney would not give a straight answer on the issue during the Scottish leaders TV debate.

    The Scottish Tory leader asks: "Does the SNP Scottish government agree that new oil and gas licences for the North Sea should be granted - yes or no?"

    Forbes says her government will continue to support the workers and the industry.

    "This government believes in a just transition," she says.

    She also criticises the Tories for "betraying" their candidate in the north east, referring to David Duguid who was effectively de-selected. She insists her party will back the north east.

  16. Who is Kate Forbes?published at 12:20 British Summer Time 6 June

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    Kate Forbes spent the past year on the backbenches following a rapid political riseImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Kate Forbes spent the past year on the backbenches following a rapid political rise

    Scotland's deputy first minister Kate Forbes is in the FMQs hot seat for the first time.

    Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020, but was narrowly defeated in last year's SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf.

    The backbench MSP considered another bid for her party's top job to succeed Yousaf but ultimately pulled out and backed John Swinney, who won unopposed.

    Having been promised a "significant" role in Swinney's government, Forbes could not have been given a greater position as she returns as his deputy.

    Read more here.

  17. Licensing must be compatible with climate targets - Forbespublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 6 June

    The deputy first minister hits back saying it's very difficult to believe the Tories on oil and gas when the party has exploited Scotland's resources to fill their "budget holes for decades".

    "We've never proposed a policy of no further North Sea licensing at all," Forbes insists.

    Any licensing process must be compatible with climate commitments," she adds.

    She says the focus is on meeting energy needs, reducing emissions and ultimately delivering affordable energy.

  18. Ross: How the SNP can pretend to support the oil and gas sector?published at 12:16 British Summer Time 6 June

    Douglas RossImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Ross claims that SNP plans to oppose any new oil and gas licenses will cost tens of thousands of jobs.

    He says Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan said the Scottish government did not agree with the UK government issuing new oil and gas licenses.

    He asks how the SNP can pretend to support the oil and gas sector and maintain this position.

  19. Forbes say any future oil and gas extraction must be consistent with climate obligationspublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 6 June

    Kate ForbesImage source, Scottish Parliament TV

    Kate Forbes also pays warm tribute to the men and women who took part in D-Day.

    The deputy first minister turns to oil and gas and insists the Scottish government is "crystal clear" in its support for a just transition.

    Forbes insists her party will never abandon oil workers, but any further extractions must be consistent with climate obligations.

    "We are evidence-led and we will ensure our decisions on North Sea oil and gas are consistent with the evidence," she says.

  20. Tribute to D-Day veterans as FMQs beginspublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 6 June

    Douglas Ross begins with remarks about D-Day.

    The Scottish Conservative leader pays tribute to those who served and those who died, saying their sacrifice played a key part in the downfall of Nazism.

    He then asks Forbes whether she thinks the granting of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea are essential.