Raising matters in the House of Commons

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the House of Commons</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Raising matters in the House of Commons </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221212740im_/http://assets4.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_996.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt="''''"/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>By raising an issue in the House of Commons, MPs can bring it to the attention of the press and public, with the possibility that enough publicity could persuade government ministers to act. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <h2>Asking questions</h2> <p>MPs can ask Ministers questions during Question Time or send written questions to them. The government is required to answer parliamentary written questions. The questions and answers are published in Hansard, the official transcript of what is said in Parliament.</p> <h2>Adjournment debates in the chamber of the House</h2> <p>The half-hour adjournment debate offers another opportunity for MPs to raise matters. Usually taken as the last business of the day, MPs must either win a ballot or be chosen by the Speaker to voice their concern.</p> <h2>Private Members’ Bills</h2> <p>An MP might introduce a Private Members’ Bill in an attempt to pass a new law. Few of these Bills are successful but they may draw public attention to the problem. <br/></p> <h2>Restrictions</h2> <p>Ministers are restricted by the Code of Conduct and cannot raise matters in the House. Parliamentary Private Secretaries and opposition spokespeople may also be restrained by internal party rules.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>House of Commons Information Office</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <ul> <li>Telephone: 020 7219 4272</li> <li>Email: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221212740/mailto:hcinfo@parliament.uk">hcinfo@parliament.uk</a></li> <li>Text phone: Dial 18001 followed by 020 7219 4272</li> <li><a href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/hcio/">House of Commons Information Office</a></li></ul> <p><strong>Publications</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/">Guides to Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/weekly-information-bulletin/">Weekly Information Bulletin</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/sessional-information-digest/">Sessional Information Digest</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/">FAQs</a><br/><br/></li></ul> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p> <strong>Adjournment debate:</strong> An adjournment debate is simply a way in the Commons of having a general debate without requiring the House to vote. </p> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Code of Conduct</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p>The Code of Conduct helps MPs understand their responsibilities to Parliament and the public.</p> </div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221212740/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcode.htm">Read the Code of Conduct</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Read Hansard</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <p>Read Questions and debates going back to 1988. Older hard copy editions of Hansard are held by the Parliamentary Archives. Read House of Commons Historic Hansard for debates from 1803-2005.</p></div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/">Parliamentary Archives</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/">Read Hansard</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221212740/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons">Historic Hansard</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20111221212740/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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Raising matters in the House of Commons - UK Parliament