Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This question has been the subject of a lot of discussion this morning, and I submit that it presumes or implies that the Minister of Education should have taken some action based on a speech given by the Secretary to the Treasury. That implication is perfectly unreasonable. It would lead to the House’s dealing with questions every day about matters, speeches, comments, or otherwise for which Ministers have no direct responsibility. It was insisted that this question go to the Minister of Education. I accept that the question has made it through the system, but I make the point that the Government would like the Standing Orders to be applied as they have been for the last 9 years when the Government has been asked questions. I freely accept that the question will now be answered.