Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:30 pm on 17 June 2024.
Stewart Dickson
Alliance
3:30,
17 June 2024
T7. Mr Dickson asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline to the House what his environmental improvement plan entails. (AQT 407/22-27)
Edwin Poots
DUP
In less than a minute, Minister.
Andrew Muir
Alliance
My environmental improvement plan has six strategic environmental outcomes. I will outline them in writing to the Member. On 24 March 2022, Minister Edwin Poots MLA approved the environmental improvement plan and wrote to Executive colleagues. He made a statement to the Assembly on Thursday 24 March, which was the last Assembly sitting of that mandate. He said:
"Our environment affects every aspect of our existence. It is central to all life: what we do; what we eat; how we work; and where we live and play. It is, unquestionably, our most precious asset." — [Official Report (Hansard), 24 March 2022, p16, col 1].
He commended the plan to the Assembly. I commend it to the Executive.
Edwin Poots
DUP
That brings Question Time to a conclusion.
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Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
