Lynne Featherstone

Crack of dawn birthday celebrations on Tuesday for my youngest daughter - 16 today - and a GCSE exam too. So not fair! And I won't be home until after 10pm as a vote is expected in Parliament then.

At the Commons I go into the chamber for the day's questions. Today is questions to the Minister for Scotland. Clearly this is not a subject close to the heart of my constituency - but I am trying to see how you get to speak or ask a question.

The apparently random bobbing up and down by members in the Chamber seems to bear no or little relationship to getting called. Actually, that's not quite true - you do have to stand to indicate you wish to be called and to be called - but that can mean that if a debate starts at 3.30pm you have to stand up after every speech right to the end of the debate (which can be around 9.30pm) - and you still may not get called.

But questions are different. You are notified if one of your oral questions is accepted and it is put on the Order Paper - in order! The Speaker calls your name and you stand up and say 'Question 3 Mr Speaker'. The Minister then answers and then you are allowed one supplementary - but then others can bob up and down on your question and Mr Speaker may call them. How or why Mr Speaker chooses a supplicant - at this point I have no idea.

We are informed that although we were supposed to stay until 10pm for a vote - this is not going to happen now. So I go to the Press Gallery reception for new MPs and chat up the media. Clearly a good idea as when I rise on Wednesday morning there is a message left at around 6.30am to call Sky news about the Violent Crime Bill.