How-To: Question Time

The most publicly-viewed, and least productive, part of the Parliamentarian's day when Ministers of the Crown are brought in front of the opposition and summarily raked over the coals. Of course, nothing is ever really asked and nothing is ever really answered, but it makes for good theatre.
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Barclay A.A. Stanley
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How-To: Question Time

Post by Barclay A.A. Stanley »

Question Time

Members of the Cabinet are subject to oral and written questions.

Any Member of Parliament who is not a Minister of the Crown may ask questions. Backbenchers may ask one question at a time to each Minister. Opposition Frontbenchers may only ask questions of the Minister they are shadowing, but may have 3 questions outstanding per Minister at any one time.

All questions must be answered in four days, and should be answered in the order they were asked.

Questions must be able to be answerred orally: that means that if the question requires a technical discussion of some length to answer, it is possible to raise a point of order against it. If a minister believes he should answer a question in more detail than allowed by an oral answer, or if he needs time to get the answer, he can promise a written answer to be provided within a deadline explicitly set by himself within a 4-day RL timeframe.

The Secretary of State and any Ministers of State from a given Department may answer any questions within their Departmental thread at any time.

Any Minister of the Crown may answer another Minister's questions where they are not of the same Department after three days have elapsed since the question was asked. This is to allow time for the question to be answered by those who have the best information to answer it.

If a point of order is raised against a question, the Speaker may allow additional time for the question to be answered depending upon how much time remains to answer the question once the Point of Order has been addressed.

Questions that are irrelevant or repetitive are out of order.
Lt. Col. Sir Barclay A.A. Stanley, Rtd., KBE
Member of Parliament for Macclesfield

Armed with nothing but a pint of gin, Sir Barclay went to battle against the forces of Communism, Socialism, and Liberalism.
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