The Prime Minister and the Parliament
The Prime Minister has, like the other government ministers, a number of tasks in relation to parliament.
The Prime Minister’s most important tasks in the parliament are: The major parliamentary debates The major debates are the debates at the opening of parliament in October and the closing debate before the summer holidays Handling of draft legislation and basis for decisions Draft legislation and basis for decisions within the area of the Prime Minister’s Office are also debated by the parliament. Answers to questions from Members of Parliament The individual Members of Parliament may submit questions to the Prime Minister, as they may to any other government minister. Members of Parliament may choose whether they wish the Prime Minister to answer verbally or in writing. Thesse are the so-called section 20 questions. The Prime Minister may answer either in writing or verbally during Parliament’s Question Time. Members of Parliament may also put questions that are to be answered immediately. This occurs during the weekly Question Hour, which is held on Wednesdays. On the previous day, before 10 am, the prime Minister announces which ministers will attend and answer questions during the Question Hour on Wednesday. Answers to questions from Parliamentary Committees A Parliamentary Committee may put questions to a minister that must be answered in writing or verbally during a consultation to which the minister is formally summoned. Interpellation debates on special issues Through a request to one or more ministers, one or more Members of Parliament may have a case about a public matter discussed in Parliament. An interpellation debate often ends with a vote on one or more proposals for approval. |