Bridges Simon; Joyce StevenPOINTS OF ORDEROral Questions—Ministerial Responsibility and AccountabilityHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not in relation to that matter; I just want to make that clear. I seek your guidance and I hope your considered ruling on an issue that came through yesterday in question time and is there in the question today. It is in relation to ministerial responsibility and accountability particularly in relation to this issue which we did discuss yesterday about the past Government and the current Government. Of course what we had yesterday was question No. 1 from a Government member to the Minister of Finance where there was quite specific reference to the last Government's programme and the defence white paper and so on. And then of course we had the question from the Opposition spokesman and rulings there.Today we've got for example question No. 5 to the transport Minister: Has he [seen] any reports … under the previous Government"—Mr SPEAKER: No—can the member read it out completely?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah look I can: "Has he received any reports commissioned under the previous Government that show the value of investment in rail?" You effectively ruled—I come back to Speaker's ruling 159/3 where it makes it quite clear that "Ministers in the Government of the day are not responsible for the activities of the previous administration." So I'm really just seeking your guidance on that cutting both ways in relation to both—Mr SPEAKER: I'll stop the member now so that I won't need to come back with a considered ruling. The question is very clear: "Has he received any reports …?" If he has received a report then it doesn't matter when it was commissioned if he has received it—and remember it's not "seen it"; it's not "read it in the paper". If it is received as a Minister then he is responsible for it.Hon STEVEN JOYCE (National): Speaking to the point of order.Mr SPEAKER: Is this a—Hon STEVEN JOYCE: It's related but not to that question. I note that question No. 8 is another example that sort of steers the line if you like. It says "What was the expected date prior to the General Election that the Residential Advisory Service would cease operations". Again that seems to ask the Minister in regard to something that relates to—Mr SPEAKER: No I'm going to sit the member down now. I don't know if the member is deliberately trifling with my time but I expect a member before taking a point of order like that to read the whole question.Hon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do think with the greatest respect that it is the role of the Opposition—all members in fact—we have a right and a responsibility to raise points of order and to have them understood—Mr SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat. Of course I respect the rights of members to raise points of order. I hope the member will respect my right to stop members when it's clear that nothing will be added to the House by them continuing and I certainly expect members before they raise a point of order in relation to the eligibility for a particular question to read to the end where the ministerial responsibility is very clear."