Prime Minister's Questions (widely known as PMQs) is the set-piece of the Parliamentary week. The Prime Minister comes to the Commons at noon every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and answers questions from back-benchers and opposition leaders.
Unlike other oral question sessions, the Prime Minister has no foreknowledge of what is to be asked, although questions tend to be topical and based on that week's news agenda. That is not to say there is no list of questions on the Order Paper.
In effect, all questions at PMQs are supplementaries. All MPs who want to ask a question normally all table the same question about the Prime Minister's engagements for that day to which the Prime Minister responds the first time it is asked. After that the questioner asks a supplementary on any subject to which the Prime Minister responds. Further questions on any subject are called from other questioners, who may or may not have tabled the 'Engagements' question, but most people on the Order Paper are reached.
The highlight of the half-hour is the head-to-head between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition is permitted six questions and is normally the second or third questioner called. The Leader of the Opposition may ask two sets of three questions on any subject, with a gap in between, or use all six in one go. The leader of the next largest party is permitted two questions.
MPs are not required to table on the 'Engagements' question. If they table a specific question, proceedings for that question are the same as for any oral question asked of any minister.
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