Oral evidenceSelect & Joint CommitteesWednesday, 17 June 202614:30

Procedure Committee: Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024-26

Committee hears from witnesses

The Procedure Committee will examine how government departments have performed in answering written parliamentary questions during the 2024–26 session. This inquiry looks at whether ministers are responding promptly, accurately, and thoroughly to backbench questions—a core mechanism for parliamentary accountability. The committee will hear oral evidence on departmental compliance with House rules on timeliness and quality of replies.

This is a procedural scrutiny of parliament's core accountability function. Poor performance in answering written questions—delays, evasive replies, or failures to engage—weakens MPs' ability to hold ministers to account on behalf of constituents. The findings may lead to recommendations for new standing orders or sanctions to improve ministerial compliance.

MP & Parliament

Committee mentioned:Procedure Committee