Leader of the House

We provide support to the Leader of the House of Commons, who is responsible for planning and supervising the government’s legislative programme (including the Queen’s speech), and managing government business within the House of Commons while also upholding the rights and interests of the backbench members of the House.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Baroness Smith of Basildon
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

 Portrait

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

 Portrait

Lord Collins of Highbury
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Conservative
Lord True (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Earl Howe (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Liberal Democrat
Marie Goldman (LD - Chelmsford)
Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Conservative
Jesse Norman (Con - Hereford and South Herefordshire)
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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Debates
Thursday 3rd July 2025
Business of the House
Commons Chamber
Select Committee Docs
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Select Committee Inquiry
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Written Answers
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Members' Staff: Business Interests
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Third Report of Session …
Secondary Legislation
None available
Bills
None available
Dept. Publications
Wednesday 1st March 2023
10:41
Trust in Britain
News and Communications

Leader of the House Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Jul. 18
Written Statements
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Bills currently before Parliament

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Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Leader of the House has not passed any Acts during the 2024 Parliament

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

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50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Third Report of Session 2024-25 of the Standards Committee, Register of Interests of Members' Staff, published on 12 June 2025, HC 943.

I have responded to the Committee on Standards, welcoming its report (HC 943) and confirming that the relevant motion will be brought forward in due course for the approval of the House.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
18th Jun 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what her planned timeline is for implementing recommendations arising from the Modernisation Committees Review.

The Modernisation Committee has not held a Review. The Modernisation Committee held a “call for views” between October and December 2024, seeking views on what it should prioritise for reform. In February 2025, it published the results of this exercise in a document entitled “Next steps for the Modernisation Committee following the Call for Views”, which is available on the Committee’s website. This document outlines the work the Committee is already undertaking.

On outside interests and employment, the Modernisation Committee has asked the Committee on Standards to undertake an inquiry, which is currently underway. The timeline for this inquiry is in the hands of the Committee on Standards.

The Modernisation Committee is also involved in discussions to take forward recommendation 3 from Paul Kernaghan’s review of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

Following my request, the Procedure Committee is undertaking an inquiry on proxy voting, including on whether proxy voting arrangements for serious long-term illness and injury should be made permanent. In addition, the Procedure Committee has announced inquiries into call lists and electronic voting, both of which were frequently raised topics in the call for views. The timelines for these inquiries are in the hands of the Procedure Committee.

The next steps document also sets out three new packages of work that the Modernisation Committee is pursuing. The first is on improving accessibility for MPs, staff and the public. On 20 March 2025, the Committee launched an inquiry on this topic, which is currently taking oral evidence and which is expected to result in a report, with recommendations, in the autumn. The other two packages of work are on effective use of time in the Commons, and on creating more certainty about the timing and nature of parliamentary business. There is no fixed timeline, but work is ongoing and updates will be issued as it progresses.

The Committee continues to work closely with key stakeholders, including the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, whips, smaller parties and other committees.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
4th Jun 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what guidance she has issued on when there should be pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills that have constitutional implications.

Chapter 21 of the Guide to Making Legislation sets out the broad principles and process by which a bill is considered for publication in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny. Decisions in relation to whether a bill is published in draft are taken on a case by case basis in the broader context of the overall legislative programme.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
8th May 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to provide parliamentary time for the House to debate the Pathways to Work Green Paper.

The House has had a number of opportunities to discuss the Pathways to Work Green Paper, including:

  • An Oral Statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 18th March following its publication, lasting around 2 hours;
  • An Urgent Question on 27th March regarding PIP Changes: Impact on Carer’s Allowance; and
  • A Westminster Hall Debate on 7th May regarding Personal Independence Payment: Disabled People.

I am committed to providing time in the Chamber to the Backbench Business Committee and I would encourage the Hon. Member to apply for a debate through the Committee if they so wish. In addition, Members will have the opportunity to debate reform of the health and disability benefits system when measures are brought forward in due course.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
12th May 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing electronic voting for divisions in the House of Commons.

This is a matter for the House to consider. The Hon. Member may wish to note that the Procedure Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into electronic voting. The Government recently submitted written evidence to that inquiry (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8885/electronic-voting/publications/written-evidence/) and he may wish to respond directly to the Committee's call for evidence.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
2nd May 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will review the practices of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on disclosing information under (a) FOI and (b) parliamentary question.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the response provided to his question 24243.

As I have previously said, I encourage Hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
1st Apr 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37209 on Government Departments: Written Questions, whether it is her policy that if information would be released under the Environmental Information Regulations it should also be released in response to a written Parliamentary Question.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to Question 37209, which answers his question.

I encourage the Hon. Member to raise any specific issues they may have regarding PQ responses with myself and my office.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
31st Mar 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, how many (a) oral statements, (b) urgent questions, (c) end of day adjournment debates and (d) Westminster Hall debates each Department has responded to since 5 July 2024.

Urgent questions, adjournment debates and Westminster Hall debates are a matter for the House. Information relating to each of these is available on the Parliament website.

The Government is responsible for the arrangement of oral statements. As of 3rd April 2025, there have been 129 oral statements from the following departments:

Department

Number of oral statements

Department for Business and Trade

8

Cabinet Office

9

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

4

Ministry of Defence

7

Department for Education

8

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

8

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

4

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

20

Department of Health and Social Care

8

Home Office

15

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

8

Ministry of Justice

6

Northern Ireland Office

2

Prime Minister

6

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

2

Department for Transport

5

Treasury

6

Department for Work and Pensions

3

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
25th Mar 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on bringing forward legislative proposals to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payments.

As Leader of the House of Commons (and Chair of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee), I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss legislation and other matters. Recently announced changes to PIP eligibility will be brought forward in primary legislation in due course.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8807 on Government Departments: Written Questions, whether her policy on Freedom of Information requests also applies to Environmental Information Regulation requests

The Government’s policy on answers to Written Parliamentary Questions and Questions for Written Answer is set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work). The guidance contains no reference to Environmental Information Regulation requests. The Information Commissioner's Office provides guidance and resources for public authorities and the public about the Freedom of Information Act and the Environment Information Regulations, available online at ico.org.uk.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, how many social media accounts her Department operates; and how much her Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the response provided by the Cabinet Office (35133).

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons currently operates three social media accounts, with no subscription or advertisement cost.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
24th Feb 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the response provided by the Cabinet Office (33179).

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that written Parliamentary questions are answered on time.

Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account. I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind Ministers of their responsibilities to provide helpful and timely responses to Members' PQs.

The Procedure Committee monitors individual department’s PQ performance and it recently published a report into performance in the 2023–24 Session (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8673/written-parliamentary-questions-departmental-performance-in-session-202324/publications/). I look forward to working with the Committee on this and other matters.

I encourage hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself and my office.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
10th Feb 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 5 February 2025, Official Report, column 742, on which topics the Government has offered Privy Council briefings to opposition Privy Councellors in the last 36 months.

This information is not held centrally. It is for Government Ministers to determine when information is shared on Privy Council Terms, on a case by case basis, and in a manner appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
10th Feb 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what steps she is taking to provide parliamentary scrutiny of Government involvement in amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by hon. Members not on the bill committee.

While the Government have a neutral position on the principles of the Bill, we have a responsibility to ensure that any Bill passed by the House is workable and operable. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House at Second Reading, and the Government has therefore been in discussion with the Member in charge about the Bill’s deliverability and the overall coherence of the statute book.

The Member in charge has tabled amendments based on these discussions. It is for the Committee to decide whether to accept each amendment. As with any Public Bill Committee, any Member can table amendments to the Bill during the Committee’s consideration, and Members not appointed to the Committee are free to observe the Committee’s proceedings (although only Members of the Committee can speak or move tabled amendments). Following the Committee stage, the whole House will have a further opportunity to scrutinise the Bill at Report stage.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 24243 on Government Departments: Written Questions, if she will publish that letter.

It is a long-established precedent that internal government correspondence is not normally shared publicly.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 23890 on Government Bills: Impact Assessments, whether her letter to Cabinet colleagues made reference to the publication of impact assessments before the First Reading of bills.

It is a long-established precedent that internal government correspondence is not normally shared publicly.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
23rd Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will provide guidance to Departments on ensuring that documentation referred to in written parliamentary questions is deposited in the Library.

It is important that Members receive full and helpful responses to parliamentary questions. As set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), when referring to public documents departments should “include the relevant extracts in your written response as well as the relevant hyperlink”.

We believe that publishing the relevant extract and link is the most effective and appropriate way to make such information available.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
22nd Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21347 on Conditions of Employment, if she will ensure that answers to written parliamentary questions provide relevant hyperlinks.

It is important that Members receive full and helpful responses to parliamentary questions.

The Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), published by my office, states that “if referring to documents in the public domain, you should include the relevant extracts in your written response as well as the relevant hyperlink”.

I take these matters seriously and have raised this particular question with the Cabinet Office to ensure the link is sent to the Hon. Members for Bridlington and The Wolds and for Brentwood and Ongar at the earliest opportunity.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
15th Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what guidance her Department has issued on how the policy and work of non-ministerial departments can be scrutinised by (a) oral and (b) written Parliamentary Questions.

The Ministerial Code gives guidance to Ministers on their responsibilities. Section 1.6(a) states that “Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and agencies”. It is expected that ministers from sponsoring departments can answer questions on behalf of non-ministerial departments they sponsor. This is true for both oral and written Parliamentary Questions.

Additional guidance on answering Parliamentary Questions is available to departments in the Guide to Parliamentary Work.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
15th Jan 2025
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.

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.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make an estimate of the average cost to the public purse of answering a written parliamentary question.

The information requested is not held. The cost to the public purse of answering written PQs depends on numerous factors, including the size of parliamentary teams, volumes of parliamentary questions submitted, and the complexity of the question asked (and required policy work to answer it), amongst other factors.

The Cabinet Office’s Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work) sets out: “There is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850.”

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that all Departments publish impact assessments to Bills when they are published at first reading.

The Government is committed to ensuring Parliament has the information it needs to hold the Government to account and to understand the impact of legislation. When a bill is published the Explanatory Notes include information regarding any financial implications.

I have written to all members of Cabinet regarding their ministerial responsibilities to Parliament. Best practice guidance is also provided to departments through the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-making-legislation.

Published impact assessments, including their date of publication, are available on the Parliament website (https://bills.parliament.uk/).

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
9th Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of recent answers to Written Questions in the context of improving transparency in Government.

Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account. I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind Ministers of their responsibilities to provide helpful and timely responses to Members' PQs.

The Procedure Committee regularly monitors individual department’s PQ performance, and recently published a report on department’s performance in the 2023-24 session (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/126/procedure-committee/publications/). I look forward to working with the Committee on this and other matters.

I would encourage hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself and my office.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
8th Jan 2025
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to her oral contribution of 12 December 2024, Official Report, column 1045, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (b) the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (c) other Cabinet colleagues on the west midlands pension fund.

As the Hon. Member will know from my correspondence with her, following the Business Question on the 12th December 2024, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the 20th December 2024 and asked that this matter be looked into.

I understand that the Hon. Member has now received an update from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on this matter.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Government's compliance with section 9.8 of the Ministerial Code in the context of answers provided to written parliamentary questions.

Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account. I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind Ministers of their responsibilities to provide helpful and timely responses to Members' PQs.

As a member of the Procedure Committee, the hon. Member will be aware that the Committee has a keen interest in the timeliness and quality of PQ responses, and will have seen the recent government response to the predecessor Committee’s report on the 2022-23 session (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45585/documents/225592/default/). I look forward to working with the hon. Member and the Committee on this important matter.

As I have previously said, I encourage hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself and my office.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
4th Dec 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to update the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation to provide guidance on the environmental principles duty in section 19(1) of the Environment Act 2021.

The Guide to Making Legislation will be updated shortly and will include references to environmental principles. Leading up to the commencement of the statutory duties contained within the Environment Act 2021, guidance was circulated to all Whitehall departments. This guidance related to both sections 19 and 20 of that Act.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of the Government in providing answers to (a) correspondence and (b) written parliamentary questions since 4 July 2024.

Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account. We recognise there is room for improvement upon the record of the previous government, and we are committed to doing things differently. As Leader of the House, I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind Ministers of their responsibilities to provide helpful and timely responses to Members' PQs and correspondence.

This Government has already taken steps to strengthen its approach to correspondence, with a Ministerial champion for correspondence in each department. Data on each Government department's correspondence performance in 2024 will be published on GOV.UK in the usual way (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/data-on-responses-to-correspondence-from-mps-and-peers).

As a member of the Procedure Committee, the hon. Member will be aware that the Committee monitors individual department’s PQ performance and that it recently launched an inquiry into performance in the 2023–24 Session. I look forward to working with the Committee on this and other matters.

I would encourage hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself and my office.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to her Answer in Business Questions of 17 October 2024, Official Report, column 1000, whether she has asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to come to the House with an update on the Cass review.

As the Hon. Member will know from my correspondence with him, following the Business Question on the 17th October 2024, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the 25th October and asked that the House be provided with an update on the Cass Review. I have raised this matter with the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Secretary of State is now actively considering the timing of this, such that it can be of most use to the House.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the oral contribution of Leader of the House of Commons on 10 October 2024, Official Report, column 475, for what reason a response from a Minister was not provided before 21 October; and whether a response will be provided before any future decision is made relating to the government's independent adviser on political violence and disruption.

Following the Business Question on the 10th October 2024, I wrote to the Cabinet Office and my office further contacted the Home Office to raise this matter. Where Members raise issues with Ministers, it is important that they receive full and timely responses. I understand that the Home Office has now responded to the Hon. Member.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of current mechanisms monitoring the potential receipt of funding by hon. Members from (a) companies and (b) individuals sanctioned by (i) Ukraine and (ii) other allies.

The rules governing the receipt of benefits by members are a matter for the House of Commons. The Commons ‘Code of Conduct’, together with ‘The Guide to the Rules’, contain specific provisions regarding the registration of interests as well as gifts and benefits received from sources outside of the UK. Both of these can be found on the parliament website (available at: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/hoc-code-of-conduct/). Any alleged breaches of these rules are investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards with the oversight of the House's Committee on Standards.

In addition, there are parliamentary rules which require All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) to refrain from accepting secretariats provided by foreign governments. These can be found within the ‘Guide to the Rules on APPGs’ on the parliament website (available at: https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/rules-on-appgs/).

Separately, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 contains clear rules on donations, with members obliged to carry out permissibility checks on the donations they receive and report to the Electoral Commission eligible donations they receive in connection with their political activities.

These mechanisms ensure transparency is at the centre of the parliamentary standards system and reduce the possibility of undue foreign influence in our democratic institutions.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, how many and what proportion of (a) named day and (b) ordinary written parliamentary questions were answered within the response deadline by (i) Department and (ii) month since 4 July 2024.

Data on response times to written parliamentary questions (PQs) is held by the House, not the government. PQs are an important part of the scrutiny of government and we are committed to ensuring that Members receive full and timely responses. In May 2024, the Procedure Committee published its report regarding Departmental performance in responding to Written Parliamentary Questions (PQs) in the 2022-23 Parliamentary Session (available at:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmproced/676/report.html). The government has recently shared its response with the Committee and recognised that there is room for improvement upon the record of the previous government. I have written to all Members of Cabinet to ask that departments and Ministers consider how performance can be improved in this Parliament.

The Procedure Committee monitors departmental PQ performance and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool. I look forward to working with the Committee on this.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, Pursuant to the answer of 18 September 2024, to Question 5016, on Emily Middleton, how many written parliamentary question responses have cited a forthcoming FOI response.

The information requested is not held by the government. It is a matter for individual departments to determine how to respond to parliamentary questions from Members. However, 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”. 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 Procedure Committee monitors departmental PQ performance and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool. I look forward to working with the Committee on this.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she plans to bring forward a motion to allow the UK Youth Parliament to debate in the House of Commons Chamber.

The use of the Chamber by the UK Youth Parliament requires the agreement of the House of Commons. I would be happy to bring forward a motion to facilitate this in due course.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
11th Sep 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will facilitate a vote on proposals for financial redress contained in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.

The Government is taking the necessary time to properly review and consider the Ombudsman's report, given the significance and complexity of the issue. Once the Government has outlined its approach, opportunities for the House to debate this matter would be considered in the usual way.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. member to the response to be provided by the Cabinet Office (3029).

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory direct ministerial appointments excluding special advisers she has made; and (i) who the appointee was and (ii) what the (A) remuneration, (B) title and (C) terms of reference was for each appointment.

I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments since being appointed as Leader of the House of Commons.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, if she make it her policy that the resolution restricting short money for parties with fewer than five hon. Members should be amended to only apply to parties with fewer than three hon. Members.

Short Money is allocated on the basis of the number of seats won by each opposition party at the previous general election. The House of Commons Members Estimate Committee is responsible for modifying the provisions of the Resolutions relating to Short money as it considers “necessary or desirable in the interests of clarity, consistency, accountability and effective administration, and conformity with current circumstances” (Standing Order No. 152D (3)(c)) .

We should acknowledge that public money underpins the political system in respect of the Opposition as well as the Government, but we must always be conscious of the cost to the taxpayer. Further consideration of this policy is rightly a matter for the House.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she plans to amend the Restoration and Renewal (a) budget, (b) timetable and (c) decant policy.

The Restoration and Renewal Programme is a matter for Parliament. The Parliamentary Client Board agreed the strategic direction of the Programme in February and expect costed proposals for three options (including full decant, continued presence and enhanced maintenance and improvement) to be put to members in 2025, enabling the Programme to progress.

Lucy Powell
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
13th May 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2024 to Question 21019 on Transport, if she will make time for a debate on the National Transport Strategy.

As Leader of the House I am committed to providing time in the Chamber to the Backbench Business Committee in line with the requirements of Standing Orders and I would encourage the Hon. Member to apply for such a debate through the Committee on this occasion. The Hon. Member will appreciate that there is a significant amount of legislation planned in this session and there is, as always, pressure on the Government’s timetable.

17th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what steps she is taking to ensure that secretariats of All-Party Parliamentary Groups do not pass sensitive information to foreign governments.

The regulation of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) is a matter for Parliament. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is responsible for monitoring the Register for APPGs and may investigate alleged breaches of the rules.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what the administration costs of her office were in each year since her appointment.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is a business unit of the Cabinet Office and, as such, its administrative costs are part of the Cabinet Office’s wider administrative costs.

Information for 2022-23 can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Information for the last financial year will be published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 in due course.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) transport, (b) venue hire and accommodation, (c) printed materials including backdrops, (d) security, (e) staffing, (f) filming and photography and (g) other costs of each public meeting since her appointment.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is a business unit of the Cabinet Office and, as such, its administrative costs are part of the Cabinet Office’s wider administrative costs.

Information for 2022-23 can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Information for the last financial year will be published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 in due course.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, how many Privy Council Office staff have left that organisation in each year since 2015.

The Privy Council Office is part of the Cabinet Office. Some of the information requested is held centrally.

As far as data is centrally held, I refer the hon. Member to the Civil Service statistics for the Cabinet Office available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics and https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics

15th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, how many staff left her Office in each year since 2015.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. Some of the information requested is held centrally.

As far as data is centrally held, I refer the hon. Member to the Civil Service statistics for the Cabinet Office available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics and https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics

12th Apr 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Guide to Making Legislation, which Acts that received royal assent since 2010 have been subject to post-legislative review; and which Acts are being reviewed.

This information is not held centrally. Post-legislative scrutiny memoranda have been published on GOV.UK where bills have undergone the process. While all bills that have reached Royal Assent are eligible for post-legislative scrutiny after they are enacted, it can be agreed between the department and the relevant Commons departmental select committee that a memorandum is not required.

25th Mar 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she has had correspondence with the House of Lords Procedure Committee about Commons scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the Lords.

The Government submitted its response to the Procedure Committee’s report on Commons scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords on Tuesday 26th March 2024.

As Leader of the House of Commons, I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss issues across my portfolio and will continue to do so. Correspondence between the Government and the Select Committees of both Houses is published on parliament.uk.

25th Mar 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to respond to the First Report of the Procedure Committee on Commons scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords, HC 338, published on 24 January 2024.

The Government submitted its response to the Procedure Committee’s report on Commons scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords on Tuesday 26th March 2024.

As Leader of the House of Commons, I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss issues across my portfolio and will continue to do so. Correspondence between the Government and the Select Committees of both Houses is published on parliament.uk.

25th Mar 2024
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2024 to Question 16442 on Legislative Drafting: Gender, when she plans to publish the further information for drafters on gendered language.

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel’s drafting guidance was published on GOV.UK on 4th April 2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-bills-for-parliament) and has also been deposited in the libraries of both Houses.