Urgent Debates Declined — Capital and Coast District Health Board—State of Health Services Ombudsman’s Report—Investigation into Criminal Justice Sector 
Urgent Debates Declined — Capital and Coast District Health Board—State of Health Services Ombudsman’s Report—Investigation into Criminal Justice Sector 
[Volume:644;Page:13600] 
Urgent Debates Declined 
Capital and Coast District Health Board—State of Health Services 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I have received a letter from Heather Roy seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the state of health services at the Capital and Coast District Health Board. In her letter the member refers to a leaked confidential report to the Capital and Coast District Health Board advising cutting doctors’ numbers and outsourcing some specialties. No decisions however have yet been made and in these circumstances I do not believe that it is a particular case of recent occurrence requiring the immediate attention of the House. Furthermore as I have said before there are other opportunities to consider the performance of district health boards. The financial review of the Capital and Coast District Health Board is currently before the Health Committee. The application is declined. 
Ombudsman’s Report—Investigation into Criminal Justice Sector 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I have also received a letter from Simon Power seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the Ombudsman’s investigation into issues involving the criminal justice sector. This is a case of recent occurrence and involves administrative responsibility of the Government. The Ombudsman’s report considers the overall operation of the justice system and contains his views and suggestions. The issues are important but to justify the setting aside of the House’s business there must be an element of urgency; see Speaker’s ruling 165/4. While on occasion the release of a report may warrant an urgent debate the circumstances must be exceptional where working through the report will take some time; see Speaker’s ruling 166/4. There will be other opportunities for the House to consider these issues once decisions are made. In these circumstances I do not believe that setting aside the House’s business for an urgent debate today can be justified. The application is therefore declined. 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I thank you for your ruling on my request for an urgent debate into the Ombudsman’s report. Of course I accept that ruling but I would though ask for you to clarify that ruling against your ruling following the Ombudsman’s report into the Department of Corrections in relation to the transport of prisoners. That was of course a report where you did allow an urgent debate. This report that you considered today was requested by the Prime Minister and had a link to direct ministerial responsibility unlike that former report and I wonder whether you could just clarify the circumstances as to why the decline of the request today has been forthcoming given such a clear example of ministerial responsibility linking it to the Prime Minister’s request for that report in the first instance. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Each application is obviously considered on its merits. I considered this one seriously. As I said I thought it was important but looking at the criteria that are required the application did not fulfil them on this occasion which is not to say that it may not on another occasion.