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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE
BY DEPUTY P.D. McLINTON OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd JUNE 2015
Question
Given that all States departments are being expected to make considerable ongoing savings does PPC consider that such financial savings should also be made in relation to the functioning of the States Assembly and, if so, would PPC consider bringing forward for approval amendments to Standing Orders to limit members to two written questions and two oral questions per sitting of the Assembly?
Answer
A majority of members of PPC agree that the States Assembly should participate fully in the current initiatives to reduce States expenditure and, although the budget of the States Assembly is set by PPC without interference from the Council of Ministers, PPC has already notified the Minister for Treasury and Resources that it is content to make savings in the Assembly budget that match the percentage reductions being made in ministerial departments. PPC has not yet finalised the precise details of how these savings will be made but is satisfied that it can achieve a total on-going annual saving of £392,000 by 2019. If the States agree to the filming and web-streaming of the Assembly there will be an additional need for savings to offset that cost as PPC has agreed to absorb the cost of filming within its current cash limits.
PPC does not, however, believe that it would lead to any noticeable financial savings in the Assembly's budget if the number of written questions were restricted to two per member per sitting as suggested by the questioner. In addition PPC considers that questions are an important way for members to hold Ministers and other officeholders to account and the committee has no current plans to amend Standing Orders to change the provisions on the number of questions permitted.