The Speaker will call you by name. If you have a substantive question, you ask your question by saying the number of the question. For example, if your question is number three, this is what will happen after the exchanges on questions one and two are finished:
- The Speaker says your name.
- You say: “Number three, Mr Speaker”.
- The minister gives an answer to the question you tabled which appears in the Order Paper.
- You then ask one short supplementary question on the same subject.
- The minister replies to your supplementary question.
- The Speaker calls other MPs to ask further supplementary questions on the same subject.
During topical questions, only the MP with the first question should say the question number. The first question is in a standard form asking for a statement on the Secretary of State’s responsibilities. That MP then has the opportunity to ask their spontaneous question as a supplementary. Subsequent MPs can ask their question straight away, without saying the question number.