Northern Ireland round-up: 18 December 2009
18 December 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Parliamentary business relating to Northern Ireland for the week ending 18 December 2009.
Ministerial statements
Government ministers can make written statements to Parliament as well as oral statements. Oral statements often address major incidents, policies and actions. Written ministerial statements are normally used to put the day-to-day business of government on the official record and in the public domain.
Oral questions
Question Time takes place for an hour Monday to Thursday after prayers. Each government department answers questions according to a rota called the Order of Oral Questions. The questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the government department concerned.
Written questions
- Commons Hansard: Spending on the Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry
- Lords Hansard: Question on the Equality Commission
- Lords Hansard: Question on extradition proceedings
- Lords Hansard: Remit of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
In addition to oral questions, MPs and Peers can ask government ministers questions for written answer. These are often used to obtain detailed information about policies and statistics on the activities of government departments.