I'm sorry, we haven't a clue

Long gone are the days of the occasional sideshow, of marginalised deputies receiving short shrift for nonsense grandstanding. Now the ability to ask an ‘urgent question’ has enabled engaged deputies – yes there are a few – to try to tease out further information in the public domain.

Policy & Resources appeared to have taken a pragmatic view in scrapping plans to make a statement in the States this week – with all the follow-up angst from meddling deputies that would encourage – in favour of a closely-worded response to a question from Deputy Adrian Gabriel.

Cue scenes which demean the intent of question time. The Bailiff keeping strictly to the rules that the question must be drawn from the initial answer, and thereby presiding over what sounded like a radio game show as deputies queued up to pose questions, only to have them ruled out of order.

Might as well install a Family Fortunes-style buzzer to deliver the damning verdict on any attempt which falls foul of the rules.

While the rules are in place for good reason to stick to the point, there is no point in question time if those questioned don’t want to answer, and may seek to exploit the rules to shut down further questions. That’s not serving transparency.