UQs

• Oral questions
• PQs - written, MPs must respond within a week if Commons and 2 weeks if Lords
• Ministers must submit themselves to questions on the floor of Commons and Lords (junior minister and foreign secretary)
• Ministers questioned on government policy /treatment of individuals and groups
• Ineffective

  Since 2015, senior members of government only attended Parliament to answer 29.5% of UQs

  • 2022 Johnson sent a junior minister to answer question over a Covid party held in 2020
  • May as Home Secretary only answered 1/7 UQs directed towards her, sending junior ministers in her stead

  2016 Cabinet members attendance falls to 12% from 40% the previous year, leading to UQs being unanswered
• Effective

  UQs increased greatly under Bercow, and continued under Hoyle’s tenure at speaker