Order of Oral Questions - Project Open Gov

The rota and order for departments to answer oral questions in the Commons.

Category: Parliamentary documents and sources Parliamentary procedure

Also used as: Order of Oral Questions, order of oral questions, oral questions rota, departmental questions rota, questions rota

Official website: View the Order of Oral Questions

Source / explainer: Read UK Parliament information on Question Time

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026

The Order of Oral Questions sets out the rota and order for oral questions in the House of Commons. Government departments answer questions according to a rota, and the questions for the day are printed in Business Today in the Order Paper. The term helps explain why different departments appear in Question Time on different days.

Related terms

Business TodayThe part of the Commons Order Paper showing business scheduled for the current sitting day.Departmental QuestionsCommons oral questions addressed to ministers from a specific government department.Future Day OralsA Commons business paper listing oral questions tabled for future days.Oral QuestionA question asked aloud in the chamber, with a minister answering in person.Question TimeThe period in a sitting when ministers answer oral questions from MPs or peers.