Points of Order

JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Before the last adjournment I raised an issue in the House about overdue written questions. The Leader of the House undertook to take up the matter. Since that time I can report that—and I asked you about this—I have had 49 questions answered this week by the Minister for Social Development and Employment, Mr Benson-Pope. Nine of those questions were 6 weeks overdue, three were 5 weeks overdue, and the list goes on. But what I am asking is whether it is satisfactory after that length of time to have an answer that states: “I will provide the member with an answer to her question shortly.” That was the answer to 49 questions. In addition, I have 22 questions remaining that are overdue—10 of those are 6 weeks overdue, and three are 5 weeks overdue. As for the questions that have been answered in that non-answer way, I now have to re-lodge them, so we will have yet further information going through the Clerk’s Office. It absolutely brings the House into disrepute when a Minister is not taking this job seriously.

Madam SPEAKER Link to this

I thank the member. I have spoken to the Minister about the number of questions that are out of time. I understand that his office is in fact attending to that urgently.