Urgent Debates Declined — Education Sector—Ministerial Report on Employment of Convicted Sex Offender

I have received a letter from Chris Hipkins seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the Government’s decision to withhold a ministerial report into the employment of a convicted sex offender in the education sector. The decision is a case of recent occurrence that involves ministerial responsibility. However, not every ministerial decision will warrant an urgent debate. There must be an element of urgency for the matter to take precedence over other business. The authentication for the member’s application reveals that Ministers will consider the report, and when and what aspects will be made public will be determined in due course. It also reveals that a further review of the Teachers Council can now get under way. In these circumstances, I am not persuaded that the setting aside of the House’s business for an urgent debate today can be justified. The application is therefore declined.