Speaker’s Rulings — Questions for Oral Answer—Accountability Arrangements

On Tuesday the Hon Dr Nick Smith raised a point of order about the accountability arrangements for questions for oral answer. Standing Orders 369 and 370 are quite clear: questions can be put to Ministers relating to public affairs with which the Minister is officially connected, or proceedings in the House or any matter of administration for which the Minister is responsible. Questions may be put to other members relating to a bill, motion, or public matter connected with the business of the House, of which the member has charge. Dr Smith’s question yesterday related to public affairs for which only a Minister is answerable during questions for oral answer in the House. Question time is primarily an opportunity for members to hold Ministers to account.

The member, in his point of order, sought a widening of this accountability to reflect the Government’s support arrangements with parties not in the Government coalition, on the basis that questions may now be put to Associate Ministers. The member is correct: Associate Ministers may be asked questions, but only where the Speaker has been informed by the Government that there is a delegated area of responsibility. The arrangements that the Government has with other parties concerning the development and announcement of policy do not affect the application of Standing Order 369. It is for the Government to decide which Minister is responsible. We already have Ministers from outside the Government coalition, but, in the particular instance the member raised, no such arrangement is in place. The Minister of Energy remains the responsible Minister.