Points of Order — Written Questions—Ministerial Responsibility for Independent Bodies

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like to raise an issue with you under Speakers’ ruling 175/3, regarding operational matters and the ability of members of Parliament to lodge questions to Ministers. This is an area where we have raised issues with you before, and, in some cases, you have intervened to require Ministers to answer for operational matters.

In relation to the new Education Council, which has been established by an Act of this Parliament, the Minister of Education has refused to answer any questions—really quite a wide range of questions—that we have put to her, on the basis that the Education Council has been established as an independent body. However, the accountability back to Parliament still rests with the Minister, and if the Minister says that she will not answer questions because the body is set up to be independent, Parliament then has no way of holding the Government to account, or of questioning, relating to that body. So I would ask that you give some consideration to that, because it seems to be in clear violation of the spirit of Speakers’ ruling 175/3, which states that although Ministers may have no legal responsibility for something, they are still accountable to the House.

The final point that I would make is that there are many, many agencies and entities that would fall into this category if independence from Government were to become a criterion that allowed Ministers not to answer questions. For example, they could refuse to answer any questions relating to the Police if that were to be the standard, and I ask that you give that some consideration.

Can I just clarify that the member is raising the question in regard to some written questions?

💬 Chris Hipkins: Yes.

Thank you. I will come back to the member. I will give it some consideration and do some investigation, and I will certainly, at least, come back to the member—and maybe to the House if it is necessary.

Oral Questions—Transfer of Questions, Notification