Speaker’s Rulings — Responses to Oral Questions

Before I call questions for oral answer, I undertook on Thursday to give consideration to the situation where a Minister promises to get back to a member with information in response to an oral question. In these circumstances the Minister has made a promise that should be honoured as soon as possible. This is the same as following up on a written reply—see Speaker’s ruling 130/2. I am not going to try to define what is a reasonable time in terms of providing the following information, as each case will vary.

Members who do not get a follow-up reply should approach the Minister first. They can raise the matter with me if they feel the Minister has not responded within a reasonable time, but I want to warn members that I will not entertain complaints about whether the answer is satisfactory. Whether members are happy with a reply or unhappy with it is not a matter of concern to me. I will regard as a very serious waste of my time, and the time of the House, any attempt to raise the adequacy of a follow-up reply.