Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Danny Kinahan and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 9th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Danny Kinahan (South Antrim) (UUP)]

3. If he will introduce topical oral questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Dr Thérèse Coffey)]

We gave this matter careful consideration, but the Leader of the House recently wrote to the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee stating the reasons we will not be introducing topical questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. As a consequences of devolution, the range of issues that are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office is narrower than for most other Departments. The introduction of topical questions might lead to a situation in which some questions fall outside the range of the Secretary of State’s responsibilities.

[Danny Kinahan]

I thank the Deputy Leader of the House for that answer. I do not want to stop all of us playing a part in each other’s areas and constituencies, but when we look at Question Time we see that the same questions are repeated, which minimises the number of Members who can get in. Topical questions might be another way of increasing participation and having more varied questions.

[Dr Coffey]

Each Member is responsible for the questions they submit. Because of the way the process of tabling questions works, the Table Office is able to ascertain whether a question relates to a devolved matter or is the responsibility of a UK Government Minister answering at this Dispatch Box.