Section 19: Content of questions

19. Content of questions (1) Every question, including a supplementary question shall, conform to the rules as hereunder provided. (2) No question shall— (a) cover more than one subject; (b) refer to any debate that has occurred or to any answer that has been given within the last year; (c) be asked seeking for information set forth in official publications, statute books or accessible works of reference; (d) seek information about any matter which is by its nature secret; (e) be asked about proceedings in a Committee before that Committee has made its report to the Assembly; (f) reflect on the decision of a Court of Law or be so drafted as to be likely to prejudice a case on which a judicial decision is pending; (g) ask for an expression of opinion, or for the solution of an abstract legal question or of an hypothetical proposition; (h) include the names of persons or statements of facts unless they are necessary to make the question intelligent and, in the case of statements of facts, can be authenticated by the Member concerned; (i) contain charges which the Member asking the question is not prepared to substantiate; (j) contain any arguments, expression of opinion, references, imputations, quotations and extracts from newspapers and periodicals, epithets or controversial, ironical or offensive expressions or hypothetical cases; [Issue 2] R30 – 38 Revised Laws of Mauritius (k) be asked which makes or implies a charge of a personal character or which reflects upon the character or conduct of persons except in their official or public capacity; (l) reflect on the character of conduct of any person whose conduct can only be challenged on a substantive motion; (m) be asked as to whether statements in the press or of private individuals or unofficial bodies are accurate; (n) ask, renew or repeat in substance a question already answered or to which an answer has been refused or which falls within a class of questions which a Commissioner has refused to answer; (o) be asked on a matter within the jurisdiction of the Chairperson. (3) The Chairperson may reject any question which he considers to be unduly long. (4) Not more than 4 questions shall be placed on the Order Paper by the same Member for the same day. (5) Questions shall be put only at Tuesday sittings and question time shall not exceed 3 hours. (6) Replies to questions not put within the time limit prescribed in paragraph (5) of this Order shall be circulated to Members. (7) No question shall be made a pretext for debate.