Page 62 - Member of Parliament Uk-handbook
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       Chamber conduct
       Conventions and courtesies

       The following are the conventions and courtesies of the
       House which successive Speakers have reiterated:

       In the Chamber
       On entering or leaving the Chamber, you should give a     Advice on Chamber
                                                                 business: Table
       slight bow to the Chair, as a gesture of respect to the House.
                                                                 Office x3302/3303
       You should not cross the line of sight between the Speaker
       and the Member who has the floor, or at Question Time,
       between a Member asking a question and the Minister
       responding to him or her.
       Mobile phones should not be used in the Chamber. Pagers
       may be switched on as long as they are in silent mode. When
       addressing the House you should not use electronic devices
       as an aide memoire or to receive messages.
       You should bear in mind Erskine May’s advice in
       Parliamentary Practice that “good temper and moderation
       are the characteristics of parliamentary language”. It is also
       important that exercise of the privilege of freedom of speech
       is tempered with responsibility.
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