Routine Proceedings / Committee Reports

Government response, request respecting a part of a report

Debates p. 13232

Background

On May 1, 1986, Mr. Lewis (Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Privy Council) raised a point of order concerning the Tenth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He asked whether, under the provisions of Standing Order 99(2), it was in order for a committee to request a Government response to only a part of its report. The Speaker heard argument and reserved his decision.

Issue

Can a committee request a response to only part of its report?

Decision

Yes. Such a request is valid.

Reasons given by the Speaker

By precedent a committee may present a separate report containing that part of the main report to which it wishes a response. Where a committee requests instead a response to a particular part of a report, the Government may comment on the entire report, although it is under no procedural obligation to respond to more than that part to which the committee has requested a reply.

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Sources cited

Standing Order 99(2).

References

Debates, April 30, 1986, pp. 12791-2; May 1, 1986, p. 12817; May 5, 1986, pp. 12920-1,