Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 May 2026
Correspondence from the Chair to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, relating to Written Parliamentary Questions performance, dated 7 April 2026 and the reply, dated 28 April 2026
From: Procedure Committee
Inquiry: Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024-26
Summary
Procedure Committee Chair Cat Smith wrote to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds on 7 April 2026 criticising the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' poor performance in answering Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs), which had worsened to 51% of named-day questions answered on time despite previous commitments to improve. Reynolds replied on 28 April stating that recent monthly figures show improvement to 74–77% for named-day questions and 85%+ for ordinary questions, attributing earlier delays to ministerial reshuffles but defending overall progress.
Key findings
- Defra's named-day WPQ performance deteriorated from 56% (summer 2025) to 51% (Dec 2024–Nov 2025) despite implementing weekly reporting, daily meetings, and diary slots.
- Committee notes Defra received 100% more WPQs per sitting day in 2024–26 than 2023–24, but other departments with similar or larger increases maintained better performance.
- Reynolds reports February–March 2026 figures show recovery to 74–77% for named-day and 85%+ for ordinary questions, attributing temporary dip to post-reshuffle ministerial changeover.
- Committee seeks clarity on root causes, staffing allocation, capacity for resources, and timeline to sustained 85% threshold across both question categories.
- Reynolds states WPQ response duties are embedded across all Defra officials rather than concentrated in dedicated staffing, with a small central co-ordination unit managing the process.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Cat Smith MP, Emma Reynolds MP, Steve Reed MP, Alastair Carmichael MP, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Procedure Committee, Table Office
Notable line
“Despite these targeted measures, in the most recent period we examined (covering 9 December 2024 – 28 November 2025) …”
Key Quotes
“… we were struck by the continued poor performance of your department …”
“… many other departments have also seen a similar – indeed, some have even seen a larger – increase, but have not seen their performance deteriorate to the same degree”
“Following the reshuffle and Defra being appointed two new Ministers, some PQs were temporarily held, and in some cases redrafted, which caused a slight backlog”
“Internal statistics show that for February and March this year, Commons PQ performance increased to 89 and 88% respectively”
“… responding to questions and correspondence from parliamentarians is an embedded part of the role of all Defra officials within each policy team”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗