OUR meeting on Thursday 27 April opened with our customary news of members and apologies for absence.

Our speaker this week was one of our own members who faced our best attendance for months. The topic of his presentation, quite fortuitously given the announcement of the general election, was how Parliamentary Questions – or PQs - are dealt with in the House of Commons.

He explained that the purpose of the PQ sessions is to scrutinise the Government. He described the types of questions that can be put to the Government and the advice that is supplied by the relevant civil servants.

He stressed that whilst civil servants are impartial, their job is to help the Government of the day to develop and implement its policies effectively. He explained that civil servants are required to supply information requested by any MP or her or his researcher.

Perhaps inevitably, the Parliamentary Questions sessions have become a point-scoring slanging match. The more effective challenges to Government take place during the debates and the committee stages.

He interspersed his talk with amusing excerpts from the TV televised Prime Minister’s question time and from the TV comedy of yesteryear, Yes Minister.

Members posed a series of searching questions throughout the talk. Whilst most found the subject thought provoking, a few understandably found it all a bit too much.

The President thanked the speaker and remarked at the depth of expertise and knowledge displayed by our members in their many and varied occupations. It proves the value of our club in expanding our appreciation of life in general and in this particular case aids us in our thinking about the impending political situation!

We meet every Thursday morning at 10am at the Evesham Rowing Club's boathouse. Information about our Club, including our programme of forthcoming talks, is on our website: www.eveshamprobus.co.uk.

CHRIS DONOUGH