Standing Orders
Conduct of Members
1. Members wishing to address the Parliament will seek the call to speak by standing in their place. The Speaker will determine which Member will address the Parliament.
2. When speaking, Members shall remain standing. Members who have been given the call may only address their remarks to the Speaker, who shall only be referred to as “Mister Speaker” or “Madam Speaker” as appropriate.
3. Members may not directly address remarks to other Members, but may make references to other Members by using either their portfolio title or by referring to them by surname with an appropriate title.
4. Members may not interrupt any other Member who is addressing the Speaker.
5. Members shall not use any language which is disorderly or disrespectful of any other member.
6. Any Member who is offended by the remark of another Member may request the Speaker to direct that Member to withdraw the remark or allegation.
7. Members may not debate matters which are not relevant to the question before the Speaker.
Powers of the Speaker
8. Order shall be maintained in the Parliament by the Speaker.
9. A motion to suspend Standing Orders will not be allowed by the Speaker.
10. Members shall resume their seat and remain silent whilst the Speaker is standing or addressing the Parliament.
11. When the attention of the Speaker is drawn to words used the Speaker shall determine whether or not they are offensive or disorderly.
12. If any Member is disorderly that Member may be named by the Speaker, as a warning to come to order. After a Member is named, the Speaker may suspend the Member from the Chamber if the Member persists with disorderly conduct.
13. Members may, at any time, raise a point of order if they believe any particular Standing Order is not being adhered to by any other Member. Until disposed of, a point or order suspends the consideration and decision of every other question before the Chair. Any Member who is speaking on another matter when a point of order is called shall, when called to order by the Speaker, cease speaking and sit down. The Speaker shall then rule thereon.
14. A quorum is half of the total number of Members. Members may draw the Speaker’s attention to a lack of quorum and, if a quorum is not present within 4 minutes, the Speaker shall adjourn the Parliament.
Items of Business
15. Members are to speak on any one topic, at any one time, for a maximum of 5 minutes, unless the Speaker gives permission to do otherwise with concurrence of the Parliament.
16. During the Adjournment Debate, Members are restricted to a maximum of 3 minutes for any one topic. Any personal explanations will only be in order if raised in the Adjournment Debate.
17. The Speaker shall disallow any notice or motion of censure against individual members of the Government. Members can express their lack of confidence in the Government during the Matter of Public Importance (MPI) debate.
18. Time for debate of each item of business will be limited to the times set out on the Notice Paper.