HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament
HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament
6.16 In drafting a question, thought should be given to the nature and scope of the response: Oral questions are not intended to give rise to debate, and should be drafted in such a way that the Minister can make his or her initial reply in no more than 75 words. Proceedings on each question, including supplementary questions and answers, are normally limited to a total of seven or eight minutes. Questions for written answer should usually be answerable using no more than two columns of Hansard. The government applies a “disproportionate cost threshold”, currently set at £800, 1 to written questions, and may decline to answer questions where the cost of answering would exceed this figure. Questions for Short Debate give rise to debate lasting 1 or 1½ hours, and may therefore be broader in scope than other types of question. What makes a question inadmissible? 6.17 Although the House allows more latitude than the House of Commons, questions are generally regarded as inadmissible if they fall into one or more of the following categories: Questions that cast reflections on the Sovereign or the Royal Family. Questions that relate to matters sub judice. Questions that relate to matters for which the Church of England is responsible. 2 Questions that relate to matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or the Northern Ireland Assembly. Questions that contain an expression or a statement of opinion, or whose purpose is to invite the Government to agree to a proposition, or to express an opinion. It is not in order to italicise 1 HL Deb., 20 January 2010, col. WS60. 2 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1988–89. 94
or underline words in the text of motions or questions in order to give them emphasis. 1 Questions that are phrased offensively. The principles of Standing Order 32 (asperity of speech) also apply. Government responsibility 6.18 In addition, questions which are not matters for which the government is responsible are regarded as inadmissible. In judging government responsibility, members should take account of the following guidance: Questions should relate to ministers’ official duties, rather than their private affairs or party matters. Where government functions are delegated to an executive agency, accountability to Parliament remains through ministers. When a minister answers a parliamentary question, orally or in writing, by reference to a letter from the chief executive of an agency, the minister remains accountable for the answer, which attracts parliamentary privilege, and criticism of the answer in the House should be directed at the minister, not the chief executive. Questions should not ask about opposition party policies. Questions should not ask the government for a legal opinion on the interpretation of statute or of international law, such matters being the competence of the courts. Questions should not ask about matters which are the particular responsibility of local authorities or the Greater London Assembly. Questions do not ask about the internal affairs of another country (save for questions about human rights or other matters covered by international conventions to which the United Kingdom is party). 2 In general, questions should not contain accusations against individuals. The names of individuals or bodies are not introduced into questions invidiously or for the purpose of advertisement. 1 Procedure 1st Rpt 1985–86, 9th Rpt 1970–71. 2 See also Erskine May, p. 348. 95
- Page 46 and 47: House of Lords Business 3.27 House
- Page 48 and 49: oral questions, which may be tabled
- Page 50 and 51: (c) business expressly exempted fro
- Page 52 and 53: 3.43 Private bills are entered on t
- Page 54 and 55: e taken during the dinner break. On
- Page 56 and 57: the remaining business from that si
- Page 58 and 59: must submit a notification and expl
- Page 60 and 61: papers can be found in the Handbook
- Page 62 and 63: CHAPTER 4 CONDUCT IN THE HOUSE Self
- Page 64 and 65: Any advice or assistance given by t
- Page 66 and 67: Order of speaking 4.25 When two or
- Page 68 and 69: 4.33 There are reasons for these cu
- Page 70 and 71: eferred to by their ministerial tit
- Page 72 and 73: Law Officers of the Crown, Judges o
- Page 74 and 75: the original motion as amended. It
- Page 76 and 77: (c) Appellate proceedings, whether
- Page 78 and 79: concerned can decide whether they c
- Page 80 and 81: 78 General principles 6. By virtue
- Page 82 and 83: 80 might be the case. Relevant inte
- Page 84 and 85: itself once each Parliament, the Su
- Page 86 and 87: 5.14 Paragraphs 8(c) and 8(d) of th
- Page 88 and 89: Registration 5.22 The Guide lists 1
- Page 90 and 91: Use of facilities and services 5.32
- Page 92 and 93: CHAPTER 6 STATEMENTS, QUESTIONS AND
- Page 94 and 95: Publication in Hansard 6.08 Where a
- Page 98 and 99: Questions should not ask the govern
- Page 100 and 101: Secretary of State’s questions ar
- Page 102 and 103: The ballot for Secretary of State
- Page 104 and 105: or any other member to ensure that
- Page 106 and 107: Motions General 6.46 In a normal fu
- Page 108 and 109: egularly used for select committee
- Page 110 and 111: 6.63 If the number of speakers on t
- Page 112 and 113: Committees on motions 6.77 On rare
- Page 114 and 115: CHAPTER 7 DIVISIONS General princip
- Page 116 and 117: into two streams in each lobby. 1 T
- Page 118 and 119: division list in the Minutes of Pro
- Page 120 and 121: (f) on a motion to insist, or not t
- Page 122 and 123: The debate on the amendment and the
- Page 124 and 125: (c) on all bills of considerable le
- Page 126 and 127: Procedure on introduction: Lords bi
- Page 128 and 129: provisional order confirmation bill
- Page 130 and 131: Constitution Committee 8.35 The Con
- Page 132 and 133: Room. 1 Following first reading, a
- Page 134 and 135: advice when the amendment is called
- Page 136 and 137: amendments to insert a new clause a
- Page 138 and 139: of the House will not have had an o
- Page 140 and 141: Effect of groupings on third readin
- Page 142 and 143: ill without Question put either in
- Page 144 and 145: e resumed. The Lord in the Chair th
or underline words in the text of motions or questions in order to<br />
give them emphasis. 1<br />
Questions that are phrased offensively. The principles of Standing<br />
Order 32 (asperity of speech) also apply.<br />
Government responsibility<br />
6.18 In addition, questions which are not matters for which the<br />
government is responsible are regarded as inadmissible. In judging<br />
government responsibility, members should take account of the following<br />
guidance:<br />
Questions should relate to ministers’ official duties, rather than<br />
their private affairs or party matters.<br />
Where government functions are delegated to an executive<br />
agency, accountability to <strong>Parliament</strong> remains through ministers.<br />
When a minister answers a parliamentary question, orally or in<br />
writing, by reference to a letter from the chief executive of an<br />
agency, the minister remains accountable for the answer, which<br />
attracts parliamentary privilege, and criticism of the answer in the<br />
House should be directed at the minister, not the chief executive.<br />
Questions should not ask about opposition party policies.<br />
Questions should not ask the government for a legal opinion on<br />
the interpretation of statute or of international law, such matters<br />
being the competence of the courts.<br />
Questions should not ask about matters which are the particular<br />
responsibility of local authorities or the Greater London Assembly.<br />
Questions do not ask about the internal affairs of another country<br />
(save for questions about human rights or other matters covered<br />
by international conventions to which the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Kingdom</strong> is<br />
party). 2<br />
In general, questions should not contain accusations against<br />
individuals. The names of individuals or bodies are not introduced<br />
into questions invidiously or for the purpose of advertisement.<br />
1 Procedure 1st Rpt 1985–86, 9th Rpt 1970–71.<br />
2 See also Erskine May, p. 348.<br />
95
Change language