How Parliament works

The primary responsibilities of the UK Parliament encompass:

  1. Overseeing and questioning the actions of the Government (scrutiny)
  2. Enacting and modifying laws (legislation)
  3. Deliberating on significant contemporary matters (debating)
  4. Reviewing and authorizing Government expenditures (budget/taxes)

 

Parliament consists of three key components: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarchy. The primary activities of Parliament occur within these two Houses. Typically, decisions taken in one House must receive approval from the other.

Parliament plays a crucial role in scrutinizing and challenging the government's work. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords employ similar methods of scrutiny, albeit with some procedural differences.

The primary methods include questioning government ministers, engaging in debates, and conducting investigative work through committees. Through these avenues, the government has the opportunity to publicly clarify and defend its policies and decisions.

Members of Parliament (MPs) and Lords have the chance to question government ministers directly either on the floor of the House during designated oral question sessions or through written inquiries.

Oral question sessions are scheduled as follows:

  • Monday: 2.35pm - 3.35pm
  • Tuesday: 11.35am - 12.35pm
  • Wednesday: 11.35am - 12.35pm
  • Thursday: 9.35am - 10.35am

Ministers from each government department take turns attending the Commons to field oral questions. The allocation of departments to specific days is agreed upon by both the Government and Opposition parties. Information regarding the current schedule and questions for oral and written responses can be found in the daily business papers.

In the House of Lords, questioning of government ministers occurs at the outset of each day's proceedings, although there are no fixed days designated for specific government departments.

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs)

The Prime Minister answers questions every sitting Wednesday from 12.00noon -12.30pm.

Debates within the House of Commons offer Members of Parliament (MPs) a platform to deliberate on the creation and modification of laws, as well as both national and international issues spanning a wide array of subjects. Often, votes are conducted to gauge whether a majority of Members support or oppose discussed laws or propositions.

Additionally, Westminster Hall debates occur in the Grand Committee Room, providing MPs with an opportunity to address local or national concerns and receive feedback from government ministers.

In the House of Lords, a day each week is designated for general debates, while short debates take place on most days, typically lasting one and a half hours. Although no formal votes occur during these discussions, the House of Lords fulfills its role of scrutinizing legislation to check the government's work.