Why in the House of Commons does the P.M. often say "I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer I gave earlier"?

Question

Why in the House of Commons does the P.M. often say "I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer I gave earlier"?

Answer 1

Another reason is that the P.M.'s responses are scripted in advance, where at all possible. Questions from the House--especially from the opposition--are designed to get him off his game and distract him from the prepared text, in the hope of making him look bad. (A similar game is played by many television correspondents: "If the interviewee gives a pat answer, ask the question ten more times. Play only the most emotive response.") By referring the questioner back to the earlier, prepared answer, the P.M. short-circuits this tactic. Stilted, but effective.

Answer 2

He says "honourable gentleman" because you are supposed to refer to MPs according to the constituency they represent, or by this honorifc, rather than as "Bob" or even "Mr Smith."

I'd suggest they refer to the earlier answer, because they want to suggest they have already answered the question, when in fact they may be trying to avoid a difficult question that they would rather not answer. However, they mustn't lie - lying to the commons and being found out is an automatic resignation offence.

Answer 3

Perhaps he dislikes repeating himself.