The starred question in parliamentary Proceedings
A starred question is a question that is asked in a parliamentary session and is marked with a star (*). Starred questions are usually asked by members of the opposition party and are designed to elicit information from the government about its policies or actions.
Starred questions are a valuable tool for holding the government to account and ensuring that it is transparent in its dealings. They can also be used to raise important issues that may not otherwise be debated in parliament.
However, starred questions can also be used for political point-scoring and to embarrass the government. In some cases, they can even lead to a breakdown in relations between the government and the opposition.
Despite these risks, starred questions are an important part of the parliamentary process. They allow members of the public to hold their elected representatives to account and to ensure that the government is transparent in its dealings.
How do starred questions work?
Starred questions are asked in the same way as other questions in a parliamentary session. The member of parliament who is asking the question stands up and addresses the Speaker of the House. The Speaker then asks the minister who is responsible for the issue being raised to answer the question.
The minister has up to 10 minutes to answer the question. The member of parliament who asked the question can then ask a supplementary question. The minister has up to 5 minutes to answer the supplementary question.
If the minister does not answer the question to the satisfaction of the member of parliament, the member can ask a further supplementary question. This process can continue until the minister has either answered the question to the satisfaction of the member or until the time for questions has expired.
What are the benefits of starred questions?
Starred questions have a number of benefits. First, they allow members of the public to hold their elected representatives to account. By asking questions about the government’s policies and actions, members of parliament can ensure that the government is transparent in its dealings.
Second, starred questions can be used to raise important issues that may not otherwise be debated in parliament. If a member of parliament believes that the government is not doing enough to address a particular issue, they can ask a starred question about it. This can help to ensure that the issue is brought to the attention of the government and the public.
Third, starred questions can be used to embarrass the government. If a minister is unable to answer a starred question to the satisfaction of the member of parliament who asked it, this can reflect badly on the government.
What are the risks of starred questions?
Starred questions also have a number of risks. First, they can be used for political point-scoring. Members of the opposition party can ask starred questions that are designed to embarrass the government or to score points against it. This can lead to a breakdown in relations between the government and the opposition.
Second, starred questions can be used to waste time. If a member of parliament asks a series of starred questions that are not relevant to the issue being debated, this can waste time that could be spent on other matters.
Third, starred questions can be used to intimidate ministers. If a minister is constantly being asked starred questions, this can make it difficult for them to do their job.
Conclusion
Starred questions are a valuable tool for holding the government to account. However, they also have a number of risks. It is important for members of parliament to use starred questions responsibly and to avoid using them for political point-scoring or to waste time.