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Questions for Written Answer - 2015/16 session

In line with the practice established by my predecessor in the last session I am today publishing data on departmental performance in answering Questions for Written Answer for the 2015/16 session.

Written questions are an important way in which Members hold the Government to account, and the House has agreed that they should be answered within 10 working days (Procedure Committee, 3rd Report, Session 2009-10). I take very seriously my responsibility as Leader of the House to ensure that responses are timely and accurate. I am pleased, therefore, that overall 93% of Questions for Written Answer were answered within 10 working days in the last session. Although there was a 40% increase in the number of questions tabled compared to the 2014/15 session, the proportion of timely responses has also increased by 2%.

I will continue to publish data on an annual basis to allow for proper scrutiny of departmental performance and to allow analysis over time.

Due to size constraints, full details are set out in the attached table.