Prime minister’s questions gives members of parliament (MPs)
the opportunity to ask the prime minister of the day questions of their
choosing. The debate is held in the House of Commons every Wednesday when the
house is sitting and lasts for approximately half an hour. After being
introduced by the speaker the first question is asked. The first formal
question is on the order paper usually asks what the prime minister's
engagements are for the rest of that day. It is posed by a selected member
saying “number one, Mr Speaker”.
It is customary for the PM to congratulate or extend condolences regarding a recent event, for example if a member of the armed forces is killed this will be mentioned before listing the PM’s engagements. After which the leader of the opposition gets to ask multiple questions (normally six). ,they are the only member of the house who will get a chance to reply to the prime minister's response. Subsequently the debate continues with other back bench members. Normally the leader of the third largest party gets to ask two questions; the in event of a coalition at least one MP from a smaller party will get to ask a question.
It is customary for the PM to congratulate or extend condolences regarding a recent event, for example if a member of the armed forces is killed this will be mentioned before listing the PM’s engagements. After which the leader of the opposition gets to ask multiple questions (normally six). ,they are the only member of the house who will get a chance to reply to the prime minister's response. Subsequently the debate continues with other back bench members. Normally the leader of the third largest party gets to ask two questions; the in event of a coalition at least one MP from a smaller party will get to ask a question.
Tabled questions should be submitted by mps more than three
days in advance of the debate and the order in which they are asked is
determined randomly by a computer.
Supplementary questions can be asked by members who have not been selected on the order paper if they ‘catch the eye’ of the speaker of the house. To do so members stand and sit immediately in their positions just before the prime minister gives an answer.
Supplementary questions can be asked by members who have not been selected on the order paper if they ‘catch the eye’ of the speaker of the house. To do so members stand and sit immediately in their positions just before the prime minister gives an answer.
The session gives the public and the media a chance to see how the government and the opposition respond to challenging questions. The atmosphere in the chamber regularly becomes heated with passionate statements from both sides, this makes it one of Britain’s most relevant and popular political debates.
David Meakin
