Assembly statement and question times to remain the same

Friday 10 June 2022

A majority of States’ Assembly and Constitution Committee (SACC) members yesterday voted to maintain the 20-minute time limit for statements and questions during States meetings.

Deputy Carl Meerveld, President of SACC, claimed the only arguments for shortening the limit to 15-minutes would be in pursuit of standardisation and “hoping people will talk less”.

He added that a reduction in time may result in some deputies being unable to ask “serious questions”. 

Deputy Lester Queripel, Vice-President of SACC, said he was “never in favour of limiting question time,” adding he could not see the rationale behind proposals to shorten it.

But he said that deputies sometimes use question time to make political statements “instead of asking questions”.

Pictured: The States' Assembly and Constitution Committee is responsible for setting the rules of procedures for the States of Deliberation.

Deputy Simon Fairclough, the only committee member to vote against retaining the limit, argued most statements and questions already overran the time limit. He also suggested the “quality of questioning is lacking on occasions”.

Deputy Meerveld subsequently confirmed this, highlighting a sample of 16 out of 21 statements which lasted 20-minutes or more – 76%.

Deputy John Gollop agreed with that sentiment, saying poor questioning may be due to “members of poor quality or not enough training”. 

Deputy Meerveld said that new induction education for States members for the next political term should “address” these concerns. 

Deputies Meerveld, Queripel and Gollop voted to retain the time limit, whilst Deputy Fairclough did not.

Deputy Liam McKenna was not present at the meeting because of illness.