HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Questions should not ask the government about the accuracy of
statements in the press, where these have been made by private
individuals or bodies.
Questions should not ask about events more than 30 years ago
without direct relevance to current issues.
The tabling of questions on public utilities, nationalised industries
and privatised industries is restricted to those matters for which
the government is in practice responsible.
Questions should not be hypothetical, and should address issues
of substance. Questions which are “trivial, vague or meaningless” 1
are not generally tabled.
Questions relating to the business of either House
6.19 The government is not responsible for the business or decisions of
either House of Parliament. Questions should not criticise the decisions
of either House.
6.20 In respect of the House of Lords, questions may be addressed to
certain members of the House as holders of official positions but not as
members of the government. Thus the Leader of the House has been
questioned on matters of procedure, and the Chairman of Committees
on matters falling within the duties of his office or relating to the House
Committee and other domestic committees.
6.21 Questions are not tabled about the internal affairs of the House of
Commons. Questions should not ask about House of Commons select
committee reports to which the government has yet to publish its
response. Nor do questions usually refer to evidence given before a
Commons select committee.
Wording of questions
6.22 The Clerks can advise on how questions may be amended to
conform to House style—for instance, the use of punctuation and
abbreviations, the standard form for references to previous answers, and
so on. Questions should use plain English and should generally be
1 Erskine May, p. 353.
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