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.

