Urgent Debates Declined — Prime Minister’s Motorcade—Police Charges

I have received a letter from Rodney Hide seeking to debate under Standing Order 373 an alleged speeding motorcade carrying the Prime Minister, in light of the decision by the police to bring charges in connection with it. This is not a very precise identification of the matter to be debated under Standing Order 373, which must be a particular matter of recent occurrence. In so far as the matter of the motorcade itself, it is not a matter of recent occurrence because that took place in July. In so far as the matter is the decision to bring charges, that matter is now sub judice so cannot form the basis for a debate under Standing Order 373—see Speakers’ ruling 151/1. Thus, however the matter is formulated, it cannot give grounds for a debate under Standing Order 373. The application is declined.