Infographic: MP Questions - Evaluating oversight and accountability

It is quite rare for MPs to have all their questions answered in committee meetings. Questions are often meticulous and long-winded, leaving no time for all MPs to have their say. Because of time constraints, or for purposes of general inquiry, MPs send written questions to the Ministries they oversee. Thus, written questions can be seen as an extra oversight role; that is, to hold Ministries accountable outside of committee rooms.

People's Assembly has sampled all written questions by MPs in the first session of the Fifth Parliament. In addition, Ministries were sampled for their response rate to the questions, as they too are accountable to MPs, and by extension, MP questions.

Please note: Questions for the last week of the first session of Parliament were not sampled, as Ministers did not have adequate time to respond.