Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Written responses

The PRESIDENT (12:52): Thank you, Minister Shing. You are going to get answers to Mrs Tyrrell’s questions to the roads minister – both those questions – in line with the standing orders.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, in relation to the final question that I asked the Minister for Mental Health, I do not believe the minister responded to either of the questions satisfactorily. The first one was around the duty of care not only to the person that collapsed after using in the injecting room but also to the community. She went nowhere towards answering about a duty of care. The supplementary question was around the number of ambulances that have been called out in the last six months. The minister can get that data and provide it to the house, and I would ask that you instruct the minister to do that.

Ingrid Stitt: On the point of order, President, it is a matter for you to consider the answers given, but the reality is that the entire framing of my answer was around the duty of care to the whole community.

The PRESIDENT: In line with the practice, I am happy to review any answers that anyone calls a point of order to. I did believe in real time that the minister did address the question. I would note to members that it has been a longstanding practice that preambles are also part of the question. I did believe that at the time, but I am happy to review if I was incorrect.

Georgie Crozier: Thank you for that undertaking, President. That is in reference to the substantive question. In relation to the supplementary, the minister referred to a reduced number of ambulances, so she has clearly got the data. I was asking for the data from the last six months. I would also ask that you review that response and that the minister could provide that information to the house in accordance with the standing orders.

The PRESIDENT: As I said, I have committed to reviewing the answer. I think there might be another matter for the minister outside of that answer to the supplementary question, but I have committed to reviewing both answers.