> completely rests on the idea that there is a minimum of dead time in the chamber I don't think we can really compare public sessions in a parliaments to regu

> completely rests on the idea that there is a minimum of dead time in the chamber I don't think we can really compare public sessions in a parliaments to regular business meetings. I'd say their main point is to broadcast a summary of decisions (which are largely taken behind close door and the actual voting is just a formality) to the public in a somewhat transparent and formalized way. I would expect a competent MP to generally know what another MP would say on a given topic before he even stands up to speak so unless he's directly participating in the discussion it shouldn't really matter whether he's using a phone at that moment or not. > It’s because showing that something is serious has a point. Being superficial doesn’t mean pointless While I'm fundamentally not against maintaining some kind of minimal dress code requirements, I think in modern, advanced societies that mainly serves an utilitarian purpose (by minimizing unnecessary distractions). The assumption that somehow the more distinguishing dress code or complex etiquette rules a specific public procedure has the more seriously it's taken by the society sounds bizarre to me. It obviously made sense in the past when status symbols like various non standard suits, gowns, robes and wigs had a point in the past because they signified that the person wearing them was somehow qualified and/or entitled to perform a jobs he's doing. But I don't think many people now would believe that a sentence passed by a judge who wears a wig is somehow more 'serious' compared to if he/she was instead wearing just a gown or simply a suit.