Parliament's Secrets: Why Ministers Can't Refuse Questions! #shorts

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]What we have is parliamentarians who don't read the standing orders, who are not aware of their rights under the standing orders. There is already a provision in our standing orders for questions to be asked of ministers both orally and written.

[00:00:14]Every time the house meet the order paper includes a section questions. Any member of the house may put to the presiding officer written questions to be answered in the house.

[00:00:27]Once those questions meet the standards set out in the standing orders, they are put out. A minister can only refuse to answer on two grounds.

[00:00:36]One, national security. And they can defer the question if they're not yet in a position to answer. But they cannot defer indefinitely.

[00:00:44]The presiding officer will force them at some point to answer a deferred question.

[00:00:50]But the presiding officer cannot force them to answer a question not answered on the question of national security.