Mr SPEAKERI have received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 media reports of a decision by Cabinet not to accept the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the issue of deploying Special Air Service personnel to Afghanistan. The decision to recommit SAS personnel was made last month and the House held a debate on the decision on 18 August. For there now to be a particular case of recent occurrence there must be a new situation of importance, or a new development in an existing situation of sufficient importance in itself, to warrant a debate being held. An urgent debate cannot be granted on the basis of media speculation. I am not persuaded that the matter warrants the House again setting aside its business. The application is therefore declined.
I have also received a letter from the Hon Clayton Cosgrove seeking to debate the review of the New Zealand Police property portfolio. The review may well be a case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility, but the member has provided no authenticating material. That in itself is sufficient ground to decline an application; I refer the member to Speaker’s ruling 170/5. In addition, the setting up of a review rarely justifies an urgent debate. When a review is reported, there may be exceptional circumstances that will justify a debate, but even then this is not always the case; I refer to Speaker’s ruling 177/1. The application is therefore also declined.