Book Description

The Committee wrote to Government Departments in May 2001, asking them to explain why they refused to provide information in response to some Parliamentary questions. Only seven responses were received by November 2001 and the last one was received in March 2002 and this long delay is unacceptable. The Committee recommends that where Departments withhold information under an exemption of the Code of Practice, they should cite the relevant exemption in their written answers. Wherever possible, the full answer to a written question should be placed on the official record. One of the reasons given for withholding information is "commercial confidentiality", for instance, in connection with PFI and PPP matters, but openness should be given a higher priority. It is recommended that a Member should be able to ask the Committee to refer unsatisfactory answers to questions back to the Department concerned. At the request of the Leader of the House, a quarterly report is now prepared about the number of questions which remain unanswered at the end of a Session, and another quarterly report is prepared regarding "I will write" answers. These reports should be published in the interests of transparency. The Committee agrees with the Procedure Committee, that there should be a daily quota per member of five named day questions. This should improve the speed and quality of answers. It is hoped that this report, and those in successive sessions, on parliamentary questions, should be debated in the House.