Question Time - Project Open Gov

The period in a sitting when ministers answer oral questions from MPs or peers.

Also used as: Question Time, question time, Parliamentary Question Time, questions time, Lords Question Time

Source / explainer: Read UK Parliament information on Question Time

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026

Question Time is the period in a parliamentary sitting when ministers answer oral questions. In the Commons, departments answer according to a rota, while the Prime Minister answers questions at Prime Minister’s Questions on sitting Wednesdays. In the Lords, oral questions are usually taken at the beginning of the day’s business.

Related terms

Business QuestionsQuestions to the Leader of the House about forthcoming Commons business.Departmental QuestionsCommons oral questions addressed to ministers from a specific government department.Oral QuestionA question asked aloud in the chamber, with a minister answering in person.Prime Minister’s QuestionsThe weekly Commons session in which the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs.Topical QuestionsShort-notice oral questions that allow members to raise current issues with ministers.