Parliamentary Questions
It’s Defra’s turn for Oral Parliamentary Questions this week. Written questions can, and do, arrive in Departments at any time, but oral questions come round on a rota. The minister answers the questions in person in the House and MPs can then ask additional questions. One of the more ‘entertaining’ aspects of this job is second-guessing what MPs might ask so that we can give the minister the right information without overloading him with obscure details.
It doesn’t always work. Last time I did Orals for the House of Lords, I thought I’d covered all possible angles in the briefing pack – until one of the members asked a question about moles. Thankfully ministers are pretty intelligent folks who don’t rely completely on the notes from their officials
We’re expecting the list of questions to arrive at about 3pm this afternoon, and, as a result of the depredations of contract limits, injury and viruses, my team currently consists of, um, me. Joy!
26 October 2009, 10:11 am
I’d get the coffee in if I were you!
Wonder if Transfiguria will b easked about (obviously in relation to the TFS regulations)