Quickie: what is a "Closed Question" on PMQs?

[Mario149]

?

[johnfm]

A question which doesn't really require an answer, like

"Is Ed Milliband a disingenuous, talentless, thick wker?"

[randlemarcus]

Single subject, and supplementary question(s) have to be on the same subject (so no ambushes).

[Mario149]

Awesome, thanks guys

[ninja-lewis]

randlemarcus said:

Single subject, and supplementary question(s) have to be on the same subject (so no ambushes).

To expand further, at PMQ the closed question is typically "Will the Prime Minister list his engagements today", which a) means only the PM can answer the question and the supplementary (they only get one supplementary at PMQ bar the Leader of the Opposition who gets 6) instead of letting another, better informed, minister answer it for him and b) means the questioner can then ambush (since only the initial question is listed in the daily Order Paper) the PM on any subject that might be considered to fall within his purview. Each question is numbered on the Order Paper and during PMQ they simply read out the number of the question and the PM gives his reply.

It used to be that each question had to be answered individually, even if all the MPs asked the engagements question. The PM would reply "I refer to answer I gave earlier" each time but now they just take it as read and move straight to the supplementary question.

Sometimes if a MP wants to ask about a serious non-political matter on behalf of a constituent, they put the question down on the Order Paper giving Number 10 advance notice to prepare a reply in return.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Open question: "What would you like to drink?" The responder can say anything they like.

Closed question: "Would you like tea or coffee?" The responder can only choose from limited possible answers.

Leading question: "On your way to the shops did you notice Mr Smith had parked his car on the pavement?". In essence, the question contains the answer. Compare, "Did you notice anything on your way to the shops?"

[randlemarcus]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Open question: "What would you like to drink?" The responder can say anything they like.

Closed question: "Would you like tea or coffee?" The responder can only choose from limited possible answers.

Leading question: "On your way to the shops did you notice Mr Smith had parked his car on the pavement?". In essence, the question contains the answer. Compare, "Did you notice anything on your way to the shops?"

That's English, not Parliamentary

[don4l]

randlemarcus said:

That's English, not Parliamentary

Is there a different definition of "Closed question" in parliament?

Ozzie's answer seemed spot on to me.


Don
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