Mr Speaker, I want to thank the Deputy President very much indeed for, again, a very positive response. You will know, sir, that this is the third time we have raised this matter in the House and it is really one of great concern. However, Mr Deputy President, there are still 100 unanswered questions from last year. A backlog of some 500 questions this year is now building up, and the matter is becoming more serious.
We have proposed before that making Ministers apologise is one way of dealing with it. We have proposed this to the Rules Committee, but regrettably it hasn't met for so long that we have not had the opportunity to push this matter further, and I would like to ask the Deputy President if he would take that matter up as well.
Mr Deputy President, if some of your Cabinet colleagues continue to refuse to carry out your instructions, surely you must start to wonder whether, in fact, they take you and your position seriously, sir. And isn't it, therefore, time for you to consider taking real action against these Ministers - these serial offenders - and even consider firing them if they continue to hold you in contempt? [Applause.]