One of the best opportunities MPs are given to hold the government to account on its policies and actions is during departmental Oral Questions in the House of Commons.
These take place from Monday to Thursday while Parliament is in session, and involve ministers from a different department each day taking questions from MPs for around an hour, much as takes place during the familiar Prime Minister’s Questions each week.
Defra ministers are questioned in this manner every two or three months, and March 25 will see the last such occasion before the next general election. The NFU is encouraging members to get involved, and to ask their local MPs to press the government on some of our key issues. In particular, this presents a great opportunity to ask questions on some of the concerns and demands set out in our new manifesto for farming, Why Farming Matters in the Election
If you would be interested in getting involved, then please email the NFU’s Government and Parliamentary Affairs Team at nfulondon@nfu.org.uk, using the subject 'Defra Oral Questions', and include details of where you live (so we can contact your local MP on your behalf) and what question or issue you would like raised.
Alternatively, write to us at the Westminster Office, for the attention of Nick von Westenholz. We will co-ordinate all the responses to make sure as wide a range of subjects as possible are covered and to maximise the chances of your question being asked. You may find it useful to browse through the manifesto, to remind yourself of some of the areas we are particularly interested in and how we believe they can be addressed.
It should be remembered that there is no guarantee your question will be asked. Oral Questions are very popular among MPs, and many of them enter the ballot to be involved. However, only around 15 questions tend to be asked on each occasion. Nevertheless, we will endeavour to make sure your issues and the key political concerns raised in the NFU manifesto are included on the day. Furthermore, even if your question fails to make the final list, it will have been brought to the attention of your MP, who may want to pursue it as a written question to the minister.
Please make sure you have contacted us by Friday 12 March.
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