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Ch17 Documents / DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE / Ministerial statements



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House of Representatives                                Ch 17                                                 p 592

 

Documents / DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE

 

Ministerial statements

Ministerial statements are made to the House by Ministers on behalf of the Government and are a means by which the Government’s domestic and foreign policies and decisions are announced to the House. A place is provided in the order of business for ministerial statements on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, following questions and the presentation of documents. 1 However, they may also be made at other times.

In all cases leave of the House is required to make a ministerial statement. The relevant shadow minister, and occasionally other Members, may also make a statement on the same matter, by leave. If leave to make a statement is refused, it is open to the Minister, or another Member, to move a motion to suspend the standing orders to enable the statement to be made or, alternatively, the Minister may present the statement, move ‘That the House take note of the document’ and speak to that question.

Having concluded a statement made by leave, it is common practice for a Minister to present a copy of the statement. The Minister or another Minister may then move a motion ‘That the House take note of the document’. 2 Debate on this motion enables the contents of the statement to be debated immediately or at a later time ( see p. 593).

The making of ministerial statements is discussed in more detail under ‘Statements by leave’ in the chapter on ‘Control and conduct of debate’.



S.O. 34.



S.O. 202(a).