Guidance on Writing Questions
The following rules apply to the right to ask Questions:-
Not more than one subject shall be referred to in any question and a question shall not be of excessive length.
A question must not contain the name of any person or any statement not strictly necessary to make it intelligible.
If a question contains a statement, the Member asking it is personally responsible for the accuracy of the statement.
A question shall not contain any argument, inference, imputation, or unnecessary, disparaging, abusive or ironical word.
Unless the President is satisfied that it is a matter of urgency and that special reasons exist, a question shall not renew or repeat in substance a question already answered.
Unless an answer has been refused or a Member has refused or failed to take action in response to a question, that question may not be asked until after a period of six months has elapsed.
A question shall not refer to proceedings in a Branch (The House of Keys or Legislative Council).
Except in relation to the date on which a Committee expects to report, a question shall not refer to proceedings in a Committee, unless such proceedings have been placed before Tynwald by a report from the Committee.
A question shall not seek an expression of opinion or the interpretation of a statute or the solution of an abstract legal question or of a hypothetical proposition.
A question shall not refer to any matter which is sub judice (currently under consideration by a judge or a court of law and therefore not to be commented upon publicly).
A question shall not reflect on the character or conduct, other than in an official capacity, of any person.
A question shall not reflect on the character or conduct of any person whose conduct can only be challenged on a substantive motion.
A question shall not make or imply a charge of a personal nature.
Questions should accordingly be framed in interrogative form and be as direct as possible, eg:
"What action has been taken to ...”
"Were steps taken to ..."
"Why was action taken to ..."
"What action will be taken to ..."
"Is it a fact that ..."
"Are you in a position to ..."
"What has been the cost of ..."
When a Question is directed to a Minister in his own capacity "you" is used when referring to the Minister, e.g.:
"Are you able to state ..."
"Has your attention been drawn ..."
Examples of styles to be avoided are:
"Are you aware that ..."
"In view of the fact that ..."
"Is it not a fact that ..." - Instead it is usually possible to use "Is it a fact that ..."
"Do you think that ..."
"Do you consider that ..." - Avoid if framed in such a way as to seek an opinion.
"Is it the policy of your Department to ..." - A Question should not ask a Minister to announce Government policy. As an alternative, a Member may ask "Does your Department intend to ..."
"Is it a fact that ... stated that ..." - A minister should not be asked to ascertain what was said by a particular person. The Question should be framed "Has your attention been drawn to the statement made by ... that ...". The questioner is presumed to make himself responsible for the accuracy of any statement imported into the Question.
"Is the Government of the United Kingdom making ..." - As the actions of another Government do not come within the direct responsibility of a Minister and the Question is one which the Minister may or may not be in a position to answer, the Question is better framed "Are you able to state whether the United Kingdom Government ... is making ..."
