Urgent Debates Declined — Social Bonds—Mental Health Service Pilot

I have received a letter from the Hon Annette King seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the announcement of the special bonds pilots. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The social bond was announced as part of the 2015-16 Budget. The House is this week debating the Budget, and the departmental estimates are currently before the select committees for examination. The Budget debate will provide the opportunity to discuss the social bond today, and the estimates examination will provide the opportunity to consider it in detail and to debate it further when select committee reports on the estimates are considered in the Committee of the whole House. On this basis, the matter raised does not meet the test for me to set aside the business of the House today. The application is therefore declined.