Representatives who can ask questions to the government
Ways a representative can ask a question
1. Written question
2. Spoken question (asked during Question Time)
Asking questions

Ministers must respond to questions
MPs can use them to hold the government to account by finding out what they've been doing and challenging them on their performance
Prime Minister's Questions

Particularly influential as the Leader of the Opposition gets six questions that don't have to be submitted in advance
Prime Minister can't prepare too thoroughly for unsubmitted questions

More likely to answer honestly
Example of using Prime Minister's Questions

In June2020, Labour leader KeirStarmer challenged PM Boris Johnson on the government's response to coronavirus, asking about schools, testing, and the current status of the lockdown
Starmer was able to challenge Johnson when the PM tried to claim the government was doing a good job and highlight flaws in what they were doing
Asking questions is diminished in power and influence because ministers are not required to answer them truthfully
Ministers will often try to avoid answering the question
