Debated in Parliament on 7 Mar 2024.
Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move a Motion to allow certain Parliamentary Questions (PQs), that were filed by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, Ms Hazel Poa, in February 2024, but which were inadvertently omitted from the Order Papers for the February and March 2024 Sittings, to be listed on the Order Paper for the next available Sitting, on or after 13 March 2024, over and above her usual quota of five PQs for that Sitting?
Ms Poa had filed three PQs for Oral Answer and three PQs for Written Answer in February 2024. Ordinarily, notice of these PQs would have been given to Members and they would have been listed on the Order Papers for the relevant Sittings during the Committee of Supply period. However, due to an IT system issue that was not picked up, the six PQs were inadvertently omitted from such notice and listing.
The Parliament Secretariat has since issued notices for the omitted PQs on 1 and 5 March, respectively. However, under Standing Order 20(3), each Member has a quota of five PQs, of which up to three, may be for oral answer, for each Sitting day.
The omitted PQs, therefore, cannot be listed on the Order Paper for the next available Sitting, unless Standing Order 20(3) is suspended to allow such listing. The next available Sitting will be on or after 13 March 2024, taking into account the requisite notice period for the PQs.
You have invited me to move a Motion to suspend Standing Order 20(3) to allow the omitted PQs to be listed for the next available Sitting. I am in agreement to do so, to ensure that Ms Poa's allocation of PQs is not affected. I am therefore seeking your consent and the general assent of Members to so move.
I give my consent. Does the Leader of the House have the general assent of Hon Members' present to so move?
Hon Members indicated assent.
Leader, please proceed.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That, notwithstanding Standing Order 20(3), the three questions for Oral Answer and three questions for Written Answer, which Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, Ms Hazel Poa, had filed for Sittings in February and March 2024, but which were inadvertently omitted from being listed in any Order Paper, be set down in the Order Paper for the next available Sitting, on or after 13 March 2024, over and above her usual quota under the Standing Orders for that Sitting day."
The reasons I am moving this Motion were explained to Members earlier. For avoidance of doubt, I should clarify that after the omitted PQs are listed on the Order Paper for the next available Sitting, on or after 13 March 2024, the usual limit of five questions on the Order Paper will apply as per Standing Order 20(3) for any subsequent Sittings.
Ms Poa should take this into account, should she wish to postpone any of her questions on the Order Paper for the next available Sitting to a later Sitting date. I understand that the Parliament Secretariat has taken steps to tighten the IT system and strengthen the processes for the receipt of questions.
*With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of Members present, question put and agreed to.*
*Resolved, "That, notwithstanding Standing Order 20(3), the three questions for Oral Answer and three questions for Written Answer, which Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Ms Hazel Poa had filed for Sittings in February and March 2024, but which were inadvertently omitted from being listed in any Order Paper, be set down in the Order Paper for the next available Sitting on or after 13 March 2024, over and above her usual quota under the Standing Orders for that Sitting day." – [Ms Indranee Rajah]*
Order. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day.
PAPERCUTS