Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 September 2025

Letter from Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State at the Department for Health and Social Care, relating to WPQ performance, dated 21 July 2025

Inquiry: Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024-26

Summary

Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for Health, updates the Procedure Committee on the Department for Health and Social Care's written parliamentary question (PQ) performance between May and July 2025. DHSC responded to 55.1% of 2,224 Commons PQs on time and 45.5% of Named Day PQs on time, both falling short of the Committee's 85% standard, though the Department answered more PQs on time than any other department in absolute numbers.

Key findings

DHSC received 2,224 Commons PQs from 7 May to 11 July 2025, responding to 1,226 (55.1%) on time; Named Day PQ on-time response rate was 45.5% of 413 questions
Performance remains below the Procedure Committee's 85% standard, but DHSC received 50% more PQs than the next highest-volume department (December 2024–March 2025 data) and answered more PQs on time in absolute terms than any other department
Department attributes delays to an exceptionally busy period including parliamentary work, legislation, and publication of the 10 Year Health Plan, which generated heightened parliamentary interest
Improvements underway include better timeliness of policy team drafting supported by updated guidance and monthly league tables; enhanced focus on chasing complex PQs and working with arm's length bodies on best practice
Minister seeks Committee reflection and support on improving awareness of existing parliamentary information-sharing tools and resources to manage demand

Tone

Procedural

Topics

parliamentary-accountabilitygovernment-administrationhealth-policy

Key actors

Karin Smyth MP, Cat Smith MP, Department for Health and Social Care, Procedure Committee, Table Office

Notable line

“DHSC received 50% more PQs than the next highest-volume Department, and answered more PQs on time than any other Department.”

Key Quotes

“In the period since I appeared before the Committee (7 May to 11 July), DHSC has received 2,224 Commons PQs and responded to 55.1% on time (1226 PQs), according to internal data.”
— Karin Smyth MP · Reporting overall PQ performance

“I recognise that this remains well below the Committee's 85% standard for departments.”
— Karin Smyth MP · Acknowledging shortfall against the Committee's benchmark

“The most recent cross-Whitehall PQ data shared by the Table Office, for the period December 2024 – March 2025, showed that DHSC received 50% more PQs than the next highest-volume Department, and answered more PQs on time than any other Department.”
— Karin Smyth MP · Contextualising DHSC's performance relative to other departments

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗