On a point of order, Presiding Officer. With regard to the earlier debate, I seek clarification on whether in a debate when time is shortened for a ministerial statement, the time for opening and closing speeches by ministers and parties is reduced. If it is reduced, was it reduced in that debate and if not, why not?

The answer is that the formula for the time for opening speeches is always attuned to the length of time of the debate. That happened in this case. Without giving away internal matters of the bureau, I assure the member that the debate was given more time than was proposed originally. I am sorry that he was among those who were not called to speak in it.