THE PREMIER: I know the Leader of the Official Opposition directed this to the minister, but I wanted to (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. Order, please. (Interruptions) Order, please. The Premier has the right to answer questions on behalf of his minister. I'll allow the Premier. (Interruptions)

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. You're a new Speaker in a new position, and I would hope that members aren't taking advantage of that situation. I would ask you to have a look at Hansard over the last couple of sessions and compare that to some of the answers to questions coming before this House, particularly the length of time. There's precious time for Question Period - well, the honourable member can laugh all they want, but it's not a joke. Members come here with questions and getting answers to those questions is very important.

HON. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, the NDP budget just tabled is about choices, and make no mistake about it, it is an NDP budget. Since being elected, they've carried on with the Tory tradition of handing out money at the Cabinet Table. My question to the Premier is, why have you decided to give yourself more than a 50 per cent increase in the IEF to create that slush fund around the Cabinet Table?

HON. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Those who have been around here a long time would realize the House rules were changed some years ago to permit government staff to sit on the floor of the House with ministers while they're debating estimates, as we move into Supply. I don't have any problem with that; they are there to assist the ministers in their answers.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we start the daily routine, I have a couple of statements I wish to read.

MR. SPEAKER: Just before we go to Question Period, just a couple of reminders: no electronic devices are to be used here in the Chamber during Question Period; I would ask again that you direct all your questions and answers to the Chair; and finally, supplementary questions are to be on the same topic as the main question (Interruption) So just a reminder of that.

MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[text omitted]

MR. SPEAKER: Order. Order, please. I believe that was already read, and that one is out of order.

SPEAKER'S RULING: Subject of supplementary questions in QP. (Pt. of order by Hon. M. Scott. [Hansard p. 1199, 10/14/09])

Before we go to Question Period, I have a short statement I'm going to read. It's a Speaker's Ruling and I'll read it as follows.

MR. SPEAKER: The second matter. Last week the member for Cumberland South asked about Question Period or length of questions and answers, the number of complete questions that we had, so I asked my staff to do some research. Over the last two-year period the average number of questions completed on a Tuesday and a Thursday, our one-hour sessions, had been 14.41. Last week on Tuesday we completed 14 questions and on Thursday we also completed 14 questions.