Oral evidenceSelect & Joint CommitteesWednesday, 3 June 202614:30

Procedure Committee: Written Parliamentary Questions

Committee hears from witnesses

The Procedure Committee will hear oral evidence on Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs)—the formal mechanism by which MPs submit questions to government ministers for written answers. This session examines how the WPQ system functions, its effectiveness, and whether procedural reforms are needed to improve transparency, response times, or access for backbench MPs.

Written questions are a core accountability tool that allows any MP to interrogate government policy and spending without debate. The efficiency and fairness of the system directly affects whether all MPs—particularly those outside the governing party—can hold ministers to account. Committee scrutiny of WPQ procedures can reveal bottlenecks in government responsiveness or inequities in how questions are handled.

MP & Parliament

Committee mentioned:Procedure Committee