Points of Order — Chamber—Visual Aids

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Last week in the House we had some interchange around the use of visual aids by members in which you indicated that a visual aid could not be held up by a member sitting next to another member. I want to draw your attention, having had the chance to consider it now, to Speaker’s ruling 64/1, which was a ruling from 2010 by Speaker Smith in which he indicated that although it was not acceptable for members in general to be holding up visual aids, it was acceptable for a member sitting next to a member speaking to be holding up a visual aid that they were referring to during their contribution. I just want to seek some reassurance from you that in fact that Speaker’s ruling does still apply and that there is not going to be a change in that practice.

Yes, I have given considerable thought to this matter since last week, and I think the ruling by Speaker Smith is eminently sensible. It seems to be that when a member is concentrating on the question, then it is absolutely appropriate that a bench mate be allowed to assist with the holding of a visual aid.