TNAG-1010-FCO40-1260-Handling-of-Parliamentary-business-concerning-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 12

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11. After each Oral Question has been answered, the Speaker allows the questioner and 2 or 3 other Members to ask supplementary questions. In the House of Commons, supplementary questions must be strictly relevant to the original Quesion.

12.

If a reply is complex (particularly if it involves a table of figures) the Minister may, instead of reading it out in full, say that he will arrange for it to be published in the official report. This does not, however, prevent the questioner from asking supplementaries.

House of Commons: Written Questions

13. MPS may also table Questions for Written Answer, in which case the Government reply by printing the answer in the official record. Written Questions fall into two categories:-

i) Priority Questions, which must be answered on the

day specified by the questioner (which must be a minimum of 2 sitting days after the date when the Question is tabled);

ii)

14.

Non-Priority Questions which must be answered within

one week of the date on which they are tabled.

There is no possibility of asking supplementary questions with Written Questions of either sort.

House of Lords: Oral Questions

15.

Oral Questions in the House of Lords fall into two categories:

i) Starred Questions:

These are dealt with in much the same way

as Oral Questions in the House of Commons, except that only 4 Questions are answered on any sitting day. Supplementary Questions are allowed, and can by tradition range more widely than in the House of Commons, though they should still be related in some way to the original Question.

ii) Unstarred Questions: these are treated as short debates;

the Peer asking the Question will normally initiate the debate with a short speech, in the course of which he may ask further questions; other Peers may also intervene before the Minister replies with a speech lasting about 10 minutes, in which he covers the subject raised in the original Question and also replies to any other points that may have been raised in the debate. In providing briefing for an unstarred Question therefore, we have to provide a draft speech incorporating the reply to the original Question and comprehensive background material on which the Minister can draw to answer any additional points that may arise. It is usual for a member of Hong Kong and General Department to sit in the official box at the House of Lords during debates on unstarred Questions relating to Hong Kong, to be able to provide additional advice

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