– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 November 1965.
Dr Horace King
, Southampton, Itchen
12:00,
4 November 1965
Order. I believe that the House has benefited by the progress we have made at Question Time this week. [HON. MEMERS: "Hear, hear."] This is no easy task for the Chair and if I occasionally make mistakes I hope that the House will pardon them. All I would ask the House is that if ever I appear a little brusque this should not be taken in any way as a personal reflection on any hon. Member. An hon. Member's duty is to strive to press his Question; mine is to think both of him and of 629 other hon. Members.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
