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Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 17 January 2025. It was answered by Lucy Powell (Labour) on Thursday, 23 January 2025 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Government Departments: Written Questions

Question

To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18705 on Home Office: Equality, if she will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions where there is a Freedom of Information request on the same subject.

Answer

I have written to all Members of Cabinet to remind departments and Ministers about the importance of providing full and timely responses to parliamentary questions.

The government's position regarding the relationship between the treatment of requests for information through parliamentary questions and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is unchanged. The Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), published by my office, states that “if information would be released under FOI, it would also be released in response to a WPQ”.

The Procedure Committee monitors departmental PQ performance and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
24243
Session
2024-26
Related items
Government Departments: Written Questions
Thursday, 6 February 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Home Office: Equality
Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Correspondence Freedom of information Government departments Written questions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk