The practice of Parliamentary Questions to the Executive for written or oral reply is an important part of the exercise of accountability and transparency.
As my Parliamentary Counsellor, Dr Gerhard Koornhof indicated in his correspondence to the Honourable Member of 31 May 2020:
“Section 92(2) of the Constitution is clear that the Members of the Cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions.
“Similarly, Chapter 10 of the National Assembly Rules are clear on questions, including questions to Ministers, the monitoring of replies to questions, unanswered questions for oral reply, questions for oral reply standing over and questions for written reply.”
It is my understanding that Chapter 10 of the NA Rules is intended to ensure the effective functioning of this practice and to ensure that any problems are addressed between the Speaker and the Leader of Government Business.
I would therefore suggest that any matters relating to the reply to Parliamentary Questions be attended to in the manner prescribed in the Rules.
In addition, I have requested that these issues be raised for discussion in the next report to Cabinet by the Leader of Government Business.