The Voter's Rights Association has labelled the clampdown on parliamentary questions as yet another blow to responsible functioning of a Parliamentary Democracy.

VRA, which campaigns for greater political rights, was responding to news that the Speaker of the House of Assembly Stanley Lowe has quashed unanswered questions about Government travel left over from the last session of Parliament.

Stuart Hayward, co-Chair of the VRA and a former Independent MP, said it is customary and appropriate that all questions, motions and legislation be vacated if they are not complete when a parliament ended.

However, it is customary that any unfinished business can be re-introduced, including Parliamentary Questions not dealt with.

He said: "No one would suggest that, if a legislative item expired due to the dissolution of Parliament, it could not be re-introduced. It is therefore difficult to understand why legitimate Parliamentary Questions should suffer a different treatment.

"Carried to its logical conclusion, such treatment for Parliamentary Questions would allow a government to avoid answering any questions by delaying its answer until a session is closed.

"Surely the entire important parliamentary function of eliciting information via Parliamentary Questions would be negated by such a policy. Thus it cannot be proper for such a policy to stand."

He said Parliamentary Questions were already unduly restricted in Bermuda's Parliament in that the time allotted for oral answers to questions is triple-booked.

Parliament begins at 10 a.m. but there is only time for questions if obituary or congratulatory speeches and ministerial statements are concluded before 11 a.m.

"Parliamentary questions should have their own dedicated time slot as befits the importance of this mechanism for holding a government to account," said Mr. Hayward.

"No Minister should be shielded from having a legitimate question asked of him or her — and it would appear that is what the Speaker's ruling accomplishes.

"This move to shield Government Ministers from questions is yet another blow to the responsible functioning of a Parliamentary Democracy."