Questions

Question Time
In accordance with the Routine of Business in Standing Order 97, Question Time occurs each sitting day (except Friday) at 2.15 p.m.

The procedure for Question Time is set out in Standing Order 131. The duration of questions is limited to 45 minutes or the answering of 10 questions, whichever is the later. It is not unusual for a Minister to object to a lengthy and involved question being asked at Question Time, and suggest that it be placed on the Questions and Answers Paper. The Speaker has also directed Members to place such questions in writing.

One supplementary question (which counts towards the 10 answers), by the Member asking the original question, may be asked.

The Standing Orders permit questions to be put:

To Ministers relating to public affairs, matters under the Minister's administration, and proceedings in the House for which they have carriage.
To other Members, being a Chair of a committee, relating to the affairs of the Committee.

The rules which should be followed by Members in asking questions are set out in Standing Order 128 and elaborated on by Speakers' Rulings:

Questions addressed to a Minister should relate to public affairs with which the Minister is officially connected, or to any matter of administration for which the Minister is responsible.
Questions relating to proceedings pending in Parliament, should be addressed to the Leader of the House.
Questions may be addressed to other Members concerning any Bill, Motion or other public matter connected with the business of the House, in which such Members may be concerned.
The purpose of a Question is to obtain information, not to supply it; Questions, therefore, should be brief and ask directly for the information sought.

Questions should not contain

Questions should not ask for:

Questions should not refer to debates of the current Session.

Questions substantially the same as a Question on the Questions and Answers Paper are not allowed.

Questions which anticipate discussion of an Order of the Day or other matter on the Business Paper are not permitted.

It is not in order to ask whether certain things, such as statements made in a newspaper, are true, but attention may be drawn to such statements if the Member who puts the Question makes himself responsible for their accuracy.

All questions whether they be asked at Question Time or in writing should be framed in interrogative forms for e.g., what, where, will, why, when, does, is. The use of words such as, 'Is it a fact....' suggests that the question is seeking an opinion or giving information.

Answers to questions must be relevant and in answering a Member must not enter into debate.

Written Questions
Written Questions are published in the Questions and Answers Paper and the same rules are applicable as apply to questions asked during Question Time. Questions must be handed to a Clerk at the Table or lodged in the Procedure Office by 12.00 noon in order to be published the next day.

The procedure for Written Questions is set out in Standing Order 132:

Members are able to lodge 3 questions per sitting day (the Leader of the Opposition 4) which are accumulative over one sitting week.
Ministers must answer questions within 35 calendar days or be subjected to explaining the non-compliance to the House.
On sitting days answers must be submitted by 12.00 noon on the due date, to be published in the next sitting day's paper. Any answers lodged after this time will be published at a subsequent time. Answers must be signed and lodged in hard copy and also electronically.
A question containing argument, unbecoming expressions or otherwise not conforming with the practice of the House may, under the authority of the Speaker, be amended by the Clerk or divided if it contains matters that are not relevant to each other, or may be ordered not to be printed by the Speaker and removed from the Questions and Answers Paper.

First Published: July, 1991
Updated: January, 2008

Last modified 13/02/2008 10:31:15 : Update this page