Oral Answers to Questions

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh Excerpts

Thursday 9th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

That is an interesting suggestion. It is not one to which I can commit, but I will certainly take it away.

[Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP)]

I appreciate the comments of the Deputy Leader of the House. However, in relation to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I suggest that members of the public are entitled to expect members of the Government representing those posts to be subject to the same level of scrutiny as their peers around the Cabinet table. I therefore hope that further consideration will be given to introducing topical questions for all those areas.

[Dr Coffey]

As I have already indicated, we have given this matter careful consideration and, for the reasons I have set out, decided that it is not appropriate to introduce topical questions at Northern Ireland Question Time—and that would also be true for Wales and Scotland.