On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I thank you for the reply that you gave to the points of order that were raised on Thursday on First Minister's question time. I acknowledge your judgment on the raft of points of order that were raised about First Minister's question time, but will you determine whether, during question time, the First Minister responds for the Executive or for the Labour party? If, as I suspect, he responds on the Executive's behalf, does not he therefore respond on behalf of his Liberal Democrat colleagues who form part of that Executive? On that basis, do you consider that your words—that the First Minister does not comment on
I am grateful to Mr Gallie for giving me notice of the question, but I am surprised that he needs to ask it at all. It is clear to me that the First Minister is responsible for the entire Executive, including its Liberal Democrat members—that is obvious. However, the First Minister is not responsible for policy statements by the other political parties—including policy statements on Iraq, for example. I am sure that he is relieved to hear that. He is certainly not responsible for Liberal Democrat policy on that or anything else. That was the point of my ruling this morning.
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