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Title

Ch15 Questions / RULES GOVERNING QUESTIONS

Database

House Practice

Date

01-05-2005

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Chapter

Questions

Chapter No.

Chapter 15

Page

532

Section No.

 

System Id

procedural/practcer/chapter15.08.doc


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Ch15 Questions / RULES GOVERNING QUESTIONS



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House of Representatives                                Ch 15                                                 p 532

 

Questions

 

Rules governing questions

The rules governing the form and content of questions are set down in standing orders or have become established by practice. In addition to rules specifically applying, the content of questions must comply with the general rules applying to the content of speeches. 1

Questions without notice by their very nature may raise significant difficulties for the Chair. The necessity to make instant decisions on the application of the many rules on the form and content of questions is one of the Speaker’s most demanding tasks. Because of the importance of Question Time in political terms, and because of the need to ensure that this critical function of the House is preserved in a vital form, Speakers tend to be somewhat lenient in applying the standing orders, with the result that, for example, breaches of only minor procedural importance have not prevented questions on issues of special public interest. The extent of such leniency varies from Speaker to Speaker and to some degree in the light of the prevailing circumstances. In addition, some latitude is generally extended to the opposition leaders in asking questions without notice and to the Prime Minister in answering them. The result of these circumstances is that rulings have not always been well founded and inconsistencies have occurred. Speakers have commented that only a small proportion of questions without notice are strictly in order and that to enforce the rules too rigidly would undermine Question Time. 2 Only those rulings which are technically sound and of continuing relevance are cited in this chapter without qualification.

The rules governing questions are applied strictly to questions in writing which are submitted to the Clerk before being placed on the Notice Paper ( see p. 549).



May , 23rd edn, p. 346.



E.g. H.R. Deb. (31.8.61) 691; H.R. Deb. (6.11.91) 2423-4, 2429-30; H.R. Deb. (29.6.2000) 18718.