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Scrutiny: to see if things work properly
Scrutiny of ministers
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Each minister must regularly appear in the house.
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e.g. in Sunak’s first month he sent a different minister into the chamber each morning to answer questions
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Some questions are written so the minister can reply in writing within 3 days
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Others are posed in the house, some the minister has been informed of whereas others are unexpected
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However ministers have the advantage that civil servants can write their answers whereas MPs don’t
Scrutiny of the PM
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PMQs for half an hour every Wednesday
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A public grilling
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A very choreographed display
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Opposition strategy: clear line of attack and defence
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Government strategy: have recommended questions given to party backbenchers
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Leader of the Opposition gets 6 questions
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Backbencher questions
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15 MPs picked by random ballot
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“Bobbing”: standing up so the Speaker can see you and call on you
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Speaker alternates between ballot questions and bobbers
Less effective?
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Lots of backroom dealing between parties and prep by their media team
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Use of resources: wasting time doing PMQs instead of running the country
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Not fully authentic
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Scrutiny of personality rather than scrutiny of policy
Scrutiny of the Government
Financial Scrutiny
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Government spending
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Scrutiny of public spending
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A Finance Bill has to be passed in order for taxation and spending to continue
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Personal spending scandal