Speaker’s Rulings — Oral Questions—Official Information Act

Members, last week during oral questions, reference was made to an opinion of the Chief Ombudsman on grounds for withholding official information. I want to take this opportunity to remind members that the Official Information Act 1982 does not apply in the House and questions to Ministers should not be treated as requests under that Act. The House has established its own rules for replies to questions and its entitlement to information exceeds that under the Act: Speakers’ rulings 142/1 and 177/6. Ministers are required to give an answer to a parliamentary question if it can be done consistently with the public interest—Standing Order 386(1). It is solely for Ministers to determine the public interest when answering a question—Speakers’ ruling 196/5.