Let’s talk about something else: how cabinet members divert issue attention in answers toparliamentary questions

• Željko Poljak ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Antwerp

     University of Antwerp

     Arrondissement Antwerpen, Bélgica

     
• Localización: The Journal of legislative studies, ISSN 1357-2334, Vol. 31, Nº. 4, 2025, págs. 1188-1211
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/13572334.2024.2411479
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Numerous studies have delved into issue attention in parliamentary questionsdirected at the executive cabinet, yet our understanding of cabinet members’answers to these questions remains limited. Consequently, this paperinvestigates whether cabinet members strictly adhere to the issues raised inquestions or actively divert attention in a different direction. Analyzing over60,000 question-answer dyads from more than 3,000 question time sessionsacross the parliaments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, and the UK, thestudy reveals that over 70 per cent of answers divert from or ignore issuesraised in the questions. Furthermore, diversion is prominent when the primeminister answers questions, especially those from the opposition andconcerning cabinet-owned matters, particularly in the early stages of theelectoral cycle. This research significantly contributes to legislative studies,emphasising the importance of examining the cabinet agenda and itsdynamic interaction with the agenda pursued by members of parliament.

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