Questions without notice to ministers

On the first day of every scheduled States meeting 30 minutes is allocated for questions without notice to ministers. This 30-minute period is in addition to the 2-hour period allowed for the answering of oral questions that have been submitted in advance.

The 30-minute period is divided into 2 separate 15-minute periods and at each States meeting 2 ministers answer questions without notice for 15 minutes each.

How does the question rota work?

The Chief Minister and each of the 9 ministers answer according to a rota drawn up by the Greffier of the States several months in advance.

The Chief Minister is required to answer questions without notice for 15 minutes at every other States meeting which means that he or she answers about 10 times a year. The other 9 ministers answer in accordance with the rota and each minister is required to answer questions in this way some 3 or 4 times a year.

What can the questions relate to?

During the 15-minute sessions the ministers can be asked questions about any matter at all that relates to their ministerial responsibilities.

The Chief Minister, as leader of the Council of Ministers, can be asked questions about any matter relating to the government of Jersey.

Ministers have no warning in advance of the questions that might be asked and they must therefore prepare well to ensure that they are briefed about the current issues that could be raised by members.  

Rota of questions without notice