Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, November 8, 2018

Official Report 1008KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In today’s member’s business debate at 2.30 pm, there was considerable opprobrium and repeated comments about the absence of two Government ministers in responding to the debate. If it were the case that the members who made those comments were aware of section 7 of the ministerial code, which governs the participation of ministers in matters that relate to their constituency, would they have seen a lack of respect and courtesy to members? Just to be clear, I make no suggestion that the members were aware of the requirements of the ministerial code in relation to my two colleagues, but it would be helpful if you could guide us as to the future conduct of members in such matters.

Thank you, Mr Stevenson. I was in the chair at the time, so I heard all the contributions, including your own measured contribution. The ministerial code is not a matter for my interpretation; it is for each individual member to make themselves aware, or otherwise, of it. In this case, although the attacks were political, they were not disrespectful, so there is no point of order for me to rule on.