Holding The Government To Account

Question 1

Debates - ku

Answer 1

Held daily for at least 30 minutes, the topic is chosen by backbenchers and at least 1 minister must attend

Time set aside for debates on big issues (pms conduct on 21st April lasted over 5 and a half hours)

Gives mps opportunity to discuss proposed laws and policies

Question 2

Debates analysis

Answer 2

These help hold the government to account as they are held regularly and continously keeps the government accountable

Debates often poorly attended (only 21 of 650 mps at UK drug law debate 2014)

Debates won’t necessarily lead to any meaningful changes

Question 3

PMQS ku

Answer 3

Held every Wednesday for 45 minutes and broadcast live on BBC

Allows the opposite party to expose flaws in policy and challenge gov

Question 4

PMQs Analysis

Answer 4

PMQs often devolve into shouting matches which leads to lost time in the already small about of time they have and allows pm to avoid giving full answers

This scrutiny helps the public see the flaws in gov policy and they have all the information rather than being left in the dark

Question 5

Voting ku

Answer 5

All 650 mps vote on whether a Bill becomes law and over half must be in favour for it to pase

Gov holds majority of seats so they have little trouble passing bills (Tony Blair passed all bills from 1997-2005)

Backbench rebellions ( Jan 2019 Theresa may brexit deal lost by 230 votes biggest loss in history)

Question 6

Voting analysis

Answer 6

Gov isn’t being held to account because its easy for them to get their way even if rest of parliament doesn’t agree

Gov isn’t always allowed to pass bills easily and still have to work to keep majority happy