Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I'm going to rule on the point of order. I understand the point that the Leader of the House is making and I certainly considered the wording of the earlier questions when they came up. I didn't simply allow them because there was no objection. I mean, as you well know, I have ruled out questions. These are all covered in the standing orders and the Practice, where it is a question about a statement a government backbencher might have made because the Prime Minister has no responsibility for those. I think the difference here, though, is very much the nature of the question with respect to government MPs and staff more generally, which is why I allowed the question yesterday and I will allow it again today. In doing so, of course there's some latitude in how it's answered because, as I pointed out, on many occasions, some of these questions, you allow them but it doesn't mean it's necessarily within the capacity of the minister answering to be able to answer it or answer straightaway.

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