There were fiery scenes in Parliament this afternoon as the Prime Minister faced a barrage of questions over the Saudi Arabian sheep deal.

Questions have been raised over whether it was legitimate compensation, or a sweetener to secure a free trade deal.

As calls grow for the scalp of Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who stitched up the $11.5 million deal with a rich Saudi businessman, Labour's Andrew Little accused the Prime Minister of getting him out of the way.

"He has jetted Murray McCully out of the country for three weeks to avoid questions. Has he told him it might be better not to come back? Or is he waiting for a Sepp Blatter 'Road to Damascus' conversion to strike Mr McCully?

But The Prime Minister has defended his Foreign Minister.

John Key said the Minister's acted to avoid, among other things, legal action because live sheep shipments were axed.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs is doing an outstanding job, and he's absolutely nothing wrong. He has looked for a commercial solution."

John Key admitted earlier today an official inquiry is a real possibility, but he's "not bothered" if the Auditor-General investigates the Saudi sheep deal.

"We're pretty laid back about it, at the end of the day it is what it is."