Speaker’s Rulings — Oral Questions—Ministerial Responsibility

Yesterday members raised points of order asking that I reflect on answers given by the Prime Minister during question No. 3. In practice, a wide view is taken of the concept of ministerial responsibility. In each case it will depend on a consideration of the legislative and administrative circumstances surrounding the question. While the Prime Minister is answerable for all actions taken and statements made as Prime Minister, the Prime Minister is not answerable for statements or actions taken as the leader of a political party or in a personal capacity, although this can be a hard distinction to make.

I have reviewed each of the answers given by the Prime Minister during question No. 3 yesterday. On reflection there is one answer to a supplementary question that troubles me. The primary question was a very general one. It revealed no particular connection to any action taken in a ministerial capacity. Dr Russel Norman’s eight other supplementary questions were answered in a way that gives me no concern. However, Dr Norman’s third supplementary question, in asking about a conversation with Mr Slater, made a connection to the actions of the Prime Minister in relation to the Government’s response to the Pike River mine tragedy. A connection having been made to a matter of ministerial responsibility, an informative answer should be given. To simply say “I am not going to describe conversations I have in a capacity other than as Prime Minister.” is not acceptable where the question is linked to matters of ministerial responsibility.

Although considerable weight must be given to a Minister’s claim that actions or statements were not made in a ministerial capacity, this can never be definitive. Ultimately, the Speaker will take a view. This is what I have done. Where I judge a question to reveal a reasonable likelihood of a connection to ministerial responsibility, an informative answer must be given.