PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Points of Order - 18 March 2026 (Commons/Commons Chamber)
Debate Detail
Contributions from Sir John Hayes, are highlighted with a yellow border.
12:34:01
Sir Julian Lewis
New Forest East
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You have clearly explained that you are not responsible for the quality, or lack of it, in a Minister’s answers—or even a Prime Minister’s answers—but can you explain for the benefit of the House and the viewing public what Prime Minister’s questions is supposed to be about: namely, that the Opposition and other right hon. and hon. Members get to ask the Prime Minister a question about a subject of their choice, and that it is not an opportunity for him to then berate them for not asking a question about a completely different subject that he wishes had been asked?
Mr Speaker
As a long-standing Member who came in with me in 1997, the right hon. Gentleman knows that that is not a point of order.
12:34:44
Paul Holmes
Hamble Valley
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Notwithstanding the rulings that you have made from the Chair, which I think are always perfect and completely right, we are now entering a new period in which a Prime Minister answers a question about a subject that was not asked and then focuses on asking a question of the Opposition Front Bench. Notwithstanding the ruling that you have just made in response to my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis), can you tell me what parliamentary mechanisms there are and who I can approach to see whether the Standing Orders need to be reformed to give you the power to determine what is an answer to a question and what is a completely pathetic response?
Mr Speaker
There is a real weakness in that, because there is an assumption that the person knows the answer. I will leave it at that.
12:35:34
Dawn Butler
Brent East
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You are also not responsible for the questions asked. The Leader of the Opposition said that it was following British values to attack Muslims praying. I just wonder if that brings this House into disrepute in regard to British values.
Mr Speaker
This is an important point: we need tolerance, and it is about respecting one another. You have put your point on the record, but I am not going to enter into a debate. I will leave it at that for the moment.
12:36:25
Sir John Hayes
South Holland and The Deepings
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis), and notwithstanding your ruling, Mr Speaker, “Erskine May” makes it clear that Ministers come to the House to answer questions, does it not? While the Standing Orders might need refining, do they not already make it clear that that is the purpose of the sessions that we have daily and, in the case of the Prime Minister, weekly?
Mr Speaker
Sir John, you are just continuing a debate that I think I have already given the answers to. We will leave it at that.
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