Starred questions are questions for oral answer by Ministers in the House of Lords.
They are called ‘Starred Questions’ because they appear next to a star on the order paper.
Starred questions can be tabled by any peer, and in practice several weeks’ notice is normally given.
On Mondays and Thursdays there are four starred questions, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays there are five (these figures include topical questions).
Topical questions are a type of starred questions – one on Tuesdays and Thursdays and two on Wednesdays.
A ballot is held among peers who wish to table a topical question, of which a few days’ notice must be given. No peer can table more than four such questions in a session.
