Carry on asking questions
It has to be seen as a positive that the current States is asking more formal questions of committees than at any time in the past decade.
Parliamentary scrutiny has expanded significantly in recent years, with deputies now afforded the valuable opportunity to quiz a couple of committee presidents on issues relating to their mandate at every meeting, as well as the long-standing use of formal written questions.
An average of question a week is keeping committees – some more than others admittedly – occupied, and though some may be of questionable value, others are useful sources of deeper information on a range of issues.
With public hearings of the Scrutiny Management Committee having appeared to have disappointingly declined in recent months, Rule 14 questions are taking centre stage when it comes to finding out what committees are up to.
More deputies should be encouraged to be asking questions.
Given the reputation this government once had for division, simple acquiescence to the senior committee and its acolytes, and its once all-powerful voting ‘Blob’, it’s heartening to see that questions still have a role to play in government.
With fiscal demands continuing to grow, the activities of the States demand ever-more scrutiny, not less.