Point of Order Hat
Until 1998, British MPs were required to remain "seated and covered" when they wished to raise a point of order; in practice, they fulfilled the covered aspect by wearing a black silk top hat. Unfortunately, that practice came to an end with this recommendation:
We recommend a new procedure for raising points of order during a Division. At present, we have the opera hat, and, although some Members may feel that they look particularly fetching in it, it makes the House of Commons look ridiculous when someone wearing the hat is trying to raise a point of order from a seated position while everyone else is milling around and going to vote.
The point of order hat also created this moment from 1993, a debate on what constitutes a hat:
Mr. Bennett : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As I understood the rules, an hon. Member has to be covered. I understood that the recommendation from the Select Committee on Procedure was to provide the House with two hats but, because many hon. Members felt that it was not dignified to wear a hat like that, an hon. Member was entitled simply to have his head covered. I understand that it was custom and practice for an hon. Member to put an Order Paper on his head. If you can direct us to where it says that an hon. Member has to wear one of the hats as opposed to covering his head, I shall be grateful.
...
Mr. Fatchett : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I should like to take you back to your ruling on the point of order during a Division when an hon. Member was told to wear a hat. The penultimate paragraph of page 366 of "Erskine May" states :
"Only when a question of order arises during a division may a Member speak seated and covered."
...
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am not seeking to change the procedure. I am guided by the Procedures Committee's recommendation in 1977, subsequently endorsed by the House, that the definition of "covered" was wearing a hat. It need not necessarily be an opera hat : it may be a handkerchief. Some of us wear handkerchiefs in that way in the summer in strong sunlight, especially those of us who are a little short of hair. It is clear that an Order paper is not a hat...I can envisage a situation where a properly constructed paper hat was appropriate, but not an Order Paper.
...
Mr. Connarty (seated and covered) : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I wish to know whether the hat which I am wearing will fit the description of being covered--or must I turn it this way? Must I also put my hand in my jacket? Is this sufficient covering?
Mr. Deputy Speaker : In my judgment, for this evening, it is.
By the way, if anyone can find a picture of the point of order hat, please submit it.