QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: Whenever a ministerial statement is made in this House, it has been the practice for the Chair to permit hon. Members to raise elucidatory questions on the statement.

However, in a recent ministerial statement, some of the questions asked of the Hon. Minister seemed to go beyond the confines permitted. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly clarify the procedure.

Questions on a ministerial statement must be confined solely to the contents of the statement. They should not be prefaced with unnecessary statements or be framed in such a way or manner as to invite or to provoke a debate. Debate on a ministerial statement is irregular. If any hon. Member feels that only a debate would satiate his mind on the issues in the ministerial statement, there are avenues open to him, one of which is to file a substantive motion.

Finally, I would like to make it clear that the rules governing the contents of Questions to Ministers are generally applicable.