In parliament we enthusiastically join the debate on governmental policy with respect to animals, nature and the environment. We introduce resolutions, participate in voting and regularly request emergency debates (for the latter we require the cooperation of other parties, because a total of thirty Members of Parliament are needed to ensure that an emergency debate is held). In addition, we also make routine use of another important democratic instrument: parliamentary questions.

Parliamentary questions are written questions, which Members of Parliament can put to the minister who is responsible for the policy area in question. The minister is obliged to answer the questions. For a small party like our own, parliamentary questions are the best way to:

• draw attention to inadequate policy;
• get commitments for policy change or to solve problems;
• clarify the standpoint and opinions of the minister regarding the policy in question.

Another advantage is that the media often devotes attention to the parliamentary questions that have been posed.

The parliamentary questions we pose are about all kinds of issues that relate to animals, nature and the environment. The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is responsible for many of these portfolios. Since our arrival in the House of Representatives, the minister has had to take on two extra civil servants to be able to answer all of our parliamentary questions. This resulted in a lot of criticism from our opponents: they argued that we were putting the ministry to great expense with all our questions. However, we are pleased that our parliamentary questions have led to the creation of so much time and attention for animal welfare issues. That was precisely the intention!