Points of Order — Written Questions—Questions Not Answered

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, while you preside over question time each day and, I presume, hope that the Government will give answers to the questions that are asked, I assume also that you keep an eye on written questions, where, of course, the duty to answer should be far greater for Ministers. There have been a significant number of Ministers who have suggested that even so few days as five would present such an insurmountable problem to them to compile their programme over that time that they simply can’t answer the question without specifics.

Order! The member will resume his seat. I think the member is aware of the proper process for bringing this up, or at least a number of his colleagues are, and that involves, first of all, contacting the Minister’s office; secondly, contacting my office and me; and if all that fails, then we bring it to the House. Unless the member has a specific example that’s gone through that process and has ended with a specific question and answer, then we’ll leave it there.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I thank you for that. Can you then give us some advice about the specific question that should be asked of a Minister who has refused to answer a specific question?

Absolutely. Give me a note and I’ll reply.