Points of Order — Written Questions—Overdue Replies

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I raise a point of order with you under Standing Order 382(4). It relates to more than 60 written questions that have remained unanswered—half of them for over 2 months—by the Minister of Defence, Mr Brownlee, when that Standing Order requires a reply within 6 working days. I have approached the Minister’s office and got an arrogant reply. So I am now seeking from you assistance in upholding the Standing Order, on this basis in particular: that our key responsibility is to hold Ministers to account. Answers to written questions are one way of holding them to account. If they treat our written questions with arrogance or behave incompetently, then we have to resort to you to uphold that Standing Order.

I give the member an assurance that I will look into the matter immediately when I leave the Chamber after the end of question time.