Points of Order — Questions for Written Answer—Replies

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My point of order concerns the handling of questions for written answer in this House, and particularly the performance of the Minister of Police. I have had a question with the Minister of Police for some time. The answer was due on 17 March. Through constant emails and questions, my office has been asking the Minister’s office for a reply. To date, there has been no response to that request. I notice that on today’s Order Paper there is the publishing of some questions from Marc Alexander. He furnished those questions back on 21 February, and the answers from the Minister of Police’s office are being published just today. I think members of this House have a right to expect the time frame that is set down for questions for written answer to be adhered to, and I would ask that your office intervene.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: If the member will give me the details of his complaint about questions for written answer, I will look into it and get back to him as quickly as I can.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Once again, the issue that has been raised is one that I raised personally with the previous Speaker, the Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, about this very Minister. Following my correspondence, in the subsequent correspondence that I received back from the previous Speaker we in New Zealand First were assured that all possible steps had been taken. Can you, Madam Speaker, on behalf of Parliament and, in particular, of the Opposition parties, advise us as to what powers you have, as the Speaker of this House and the protector of MPs, to ensure that reluctant, lazy Ministers who do not comply with the Standing Orders are brought to account. If there is a shortfall in the Standing Orders such that they do not assist you, can you advise us of the amendments that would be necessary so we could progress the issue by making such amendments to the Standing Orders. Continued performances such as this make a mockery of the House, the democratic system, and the Minister himself—although he seems to be happy to live with that.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: If the member would like to put his complaint in writing to me, I will look at it, investigate it, and get back to him as quickly as possible.