From: "John Beamish" 

Things have changed, then, since the last time I read up on UK Parliament's
Question Period.  Back then, the initial question was indeed submitted in
advance but follow-ups weren't.  Net result:  the written question would be
something like "The PM's schedule shows that he is travelling to Outer
Hastings by the Sea.  Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer be accompanying
him?"  And, of course, there would then be lots of budget questions as
follow-ups.

Here in the GWN, questions do not have to be submitted in advance (though
the Reform used to do that for three substantive questions).

Following Question Period the PM and various ministers are involved in what
we call "scrums".  Basically, the press (TV, radio, newsjournals)
stand in an area outside the Commons and the PM and ministers exit from the
Commons via that location.  Many oral questions, many extemporaneous
answers.

(Except for Herb Gray who was noted for replying to almost all questions
with "The question is interesting but I disagree with the
premise" and would then launch a spirited defense of whichever premise
he felt most strongly about.)

"Gene McAloon"  wrote in message
news:b8ht70h1vqjr169t77cl8ih0ckcoaocorg{at}4ax.com...
>
> You have got to be kidding. PM's question time is a national joke, the
butt of
> comedians and it has never been otherwise.
>
> At that, Blair looks as good as he does only because there is nothing at
all
> spontaneous about question time. All questions are submitted in advance
and in
> writing.  Blair knows every question that is going to be asked and has
rehearsed
> his reply long before question time even begins.  Every little detail
about
> question time is stage managed.
>
> Not that I don't doubt Blair is more intelligent than Bush, but then among
world
> leaders today, who isn't?  Nonetheless Blair seems to suffer from the same
sort
> of simple-minded black v. white morality as Bush does. It is the most
obvious
> fault of both men.
>

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