After a question has been stated and the answer given, the questioner and the minister are each allowed to take the floor twice for brief remarks. The questioner may ask short supplementary questions. Debating is not permitted, and the Storting may not pass resolutions. The Question Time is popular with the Storting representatives, and the opposition uses it freely. The government ministries make a great effort to enable the ministers to answer all questions.
Interpellations are a more formal way of presenting questions.
An interpellation must be brief, and it must also be filed in writing with the President of the Storting. The President may reject interpellations on matters currently being dealt with in committee, or on which recommendations have been made but not yet deliberated by the Storting or either of its chambers. The President may also reject interpellations on matters on which interpellations or questions have already been submitted but not yet answered. Interpellations generally deal with matters of greater scope and political importance, and often lead to debates and various types of motions . The Prime Minister or the minister concerned notifies the President in writing when he or she intends to answer the interpellation.