John Hogg (President) Share this | Hansard source

On both sides: I was certainly not helped at the start of the question by the preamble to the question, but then I was certainly not helped by some of the noise that followed in the response. It makes it very difficult up here to hear some of the responses that are coming forth. The minister has, as you rightly pointed out, one minute 26 seconds. I do not set aside part of the time that is allowed for the answer, that being two minutes, for preamble or prologue; I have never said that. I have never stated that from the chair as such. The standing orders dictate that there is a two-minute time limit in which to answer the question. The minister, though, has the responsibility in answering the question to respond in accordance with the standing orders and to be directly relevant to the question that has been asked. I acknowledge that, but I do not accept that there has been a time set aside for prologue or preamble.

I do listen carefully to what the ministers are saying. Sometimes the ministers’ responses are drowned out by calling from both sides of the chamber—and I am not picking on one side or the other there—and it makes it very difficult to pick up the full answer that is being given. On this occasion, I draw the minister’s attention to the fact that there is still one minute 26 seconds remaining in which to answer the question. It would assist the chair if, when people are asking questions, the banter that goes on is ceased. I do understand that people want to let off a bit of steam from time to time and I am fairly tolerant about that. Minister, you have one minute and 26 seconds remaining to answer the question.