First Minister's Questions

FMQs happens on Thursdays, from 12pm to 12.45pm. It doesn't happen during recess.

During FMQs, the First Minister answers questions from opposition party leaders and other MSPs.

It's the most popular session of Parliament to watch, and demand for tickets is high.

Tickets become available one week in advance (or more for groups), and can be booked using this calendar. You'll complete the booking process through our ticketing partner, CitizenTicket:

Note that you’ll be asked for the full names and home addresses of every person you are booking for. You can find our privacy policy about this on our website. We require all information be complete and accurate at the time of booking. Answers cannot be changed once a booking is made, and the details of the person collecting the ticket must match the information provided.

Please ensure that all fields are filled out completely and accurately. Bookings that do not comply with our data requirements will be refused and may be cancelled without notice. 

Other ways to book FMQs

We recommend booking online, however, you can also call us to book by phoning one week ahead of your preferred date, no earlier than 9am. 

You can call 0131 348 5000 or freephone 0800 092 7500. BSL users can use Contact Scotland BSL.

If you live in Scotland, you can also request tickets through one of your 8 MSPs. Full names and home address information is still required if you book through them.

School groups have a different process for booking FMQs tickets.

Attending FMQs

1. Make sure your whole group has identification on them before arriving. This should show your full names
2. Arrive in plenty of time to go through the airport-style security check – we recommend arriving at 11am
3. Collect tickets from the visitor information desk. Only named people who've booked, and have identification on them, can collect tickets
4. Hand over all electronic devices to staff, who will lock them away securely for the duration of FMQs
5. Follow the visitor behaviour policy. Anyone in breach of this code may be excluded from future visits

Visitor Behaviour Policy

Please remember that this is a working parliamentary building and, as such, you are expected to behave as set out in this policy. We reserve the right to remove visitors who breach this policy and apply a period of exclusion from our public galleries and parliamentary business.

For all visits, please:

• follow all instructions from parliament staff, including any requests to bring ID with you
• do not leave your bags and personal belongings unattended
• do not smoke in the building
• do not eat or drink, except in the restaurants
• if given one, wear your visitor lanyard and pass at all times. Return it when asked or when leaving
• collect any items retained by security as you leave
• note that protests are not allowed inside the building. Banners, flags and political slogans are forbidden

The Parliament’s Standing Orders cover public access to parliamentary business. They allow the Presiding Officer to set reasonable conditions, and exclusions if these are not met.

For visits to see parliamentary business, please:

• enter, sit in and leave the galleries quietly and as requested by parliamentary staff
• switch all electronic devices off, and secure them as instructed by parliamentary staff
• do not cause a distraction or disruption to parliamentary business. If there is a disruption in the Chamber, the Presiding Officer can ask visitors to leave
• note that people who wilfully disrupt may face a period of exclusion from future visits
• do not applaud or shout out during meetings
• do not take photos, videos or recordings during meetings
• obtain prior permission to paint, sketch or draw
• follow the instructions of parliamentary staff on when and where to sit and to leave. For First Minister’s Questions, this includes remaining seated for the entire session. If you need to leave before the session ends, please speak to the nearest member of Parliament staff

Other ways to watch FMQs

You can also watch FMQs on Scottish Parliament TV (with live BSL interpreting provided) or on our Facebook page.