Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 May 2025
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions relating to WPQ performance, dated 3 April 2025
From: Procedure Committee
Inquiry: Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024-26
Summary
The Procedure Committee Chair writes to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding DWP's performance in answering written parliamentary questions (WPQs) during July–December 2024. The department fell below the acceptable 85% standard, with 78% of Named Day questions and 83% of Ordinary questions answered on time, a significant decline from near-perfect performance in 2023–24. The Committee requests details of remedial steps within six weeks.
Key findings
- DWP's WPQ performance in July–December 2024 fell to 78% for Named Day questions (206/265) and 83% for Ordinary questions (673/808), both below the 85% benchmark.
- Performance represents a sharp decline from the 2023–24 Session, when DWP achieved 94–99.7% compliance across all question types.
- Committee notes forthcoming benefits system changes and risk of increased parliamentary scrutiny, requiring departmental preparedness.
- Committee encourages immediate corrective action to prevent further performance degradation and requests written response within six weeks outlining improvement measures.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Cat Smith MP, Liz Kendall MP, Procedure Committee, Department for Work and Pensions, House of Commons Table Office, Leader of the House
Notable line
“DWP is currently performing below the 85% standard. DWP WPQ performance in Session 2023 – 24 and Session 2024 – 25 1 Period Named …”
Key Quotes
“… the standard considered acceptable by us and by our predecessors is for 85% of questions to be responded to on time”
“The DWP performed exceedingly well during the 2023 – 24 Session, with nearly all questions responded to on time during the latter part of the Session.”
“Social: @CommonsProcCom changes to the benefits system, it is important to ensure that your department is fully prepared to respond to any potential increase in scrutiny from Members moving …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗