Committee publication · Correspondence · 7 May 2025
Reply from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to Written Parliamentary Questions, dated 17 April 2025
From: Procedure Committee
Inquiry: Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024-26
Summary
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster replies to the Procedure Committee's inquiry about the Cabinet Office's performance on Written Parliamentary Questions (PQs) between July–December 2024. He acknowledges a significant increase in PQ volume caused delays, but reports improvement to 86.5% on-time responses by January–Easter recess and commits to continued monitoring.
Key findings
- Cabinet Office received significantly higher PQ volume July–December 2024 compared to preceding six months, reducing on-time response rates
- Chancellor instructed the Department to improve performance after the decline was brought to his attention
- Performance improved to 86.5% of PQs answered on time in the period from January until Easter recess
- Cabinet Office will continue to monitor performance closely and take further steps to build on improvements
Tone
ProceduralTopics
parliamentary-proceduregovernment-accountabilitypublic-administration
Key actors
Pat McFadden, Cat Smith, Cabinet Office, Procedure Committee
Notable line
“When this was brought to my attention, I instructed the Department to take steps to ensure that performance improved.”
Key Quotes
“Providing high quality and timely responses to Parliamentary Questions (PQs) is a responsibility Ministers in the Cabinet Office take seriously.”
“… there was a significant increase in the volume of PQs received by the Cabinet Office between July and December 2024 compared to the preceding six months”
“… performance has improved, with 86.5% of PQs answered on time”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗