Urgent Debates Declined — National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research—Water-quality Report

I have received a letter from Charles Chauvel seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the release of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd report on Lake water quality in New Zealand 2010: Status and trends.

This is a particular case of recent occurrence that involves ministerial responsibility. Although on occasion the release of a report may warrant an urgent debate, the circumstances must be exceptional. This issue is an important one, but the time to consider it is when the steps that need to be taken to improve freshwater quality emerge from the consultation process that the Government currently has under way. In these circumstances I do not believe that setting aside the House’s business for an urgent debate today can be justified. The application is therefore declined.