Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, if she will require Departments to publish an estimate of the cost of answering a Written Parliamentary Question in cases where disproportionate cost is cited as a reason for not providing a substantive answer.

Answered by Lucy Powell

It is a matter for individual departments to determine how to respond to parliamentary questions from Members. In responding to questions, Ministers should be as open as possible and provide helpful answers to Members.

The Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), published by my office, sets out guidance for departments in responding to parliamentary questions and the disproportionate cost threshold. There are no plans to change this.

The Guide states that “Where information is being refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost, there should be a presumption that any of the requested information which is readily available should be provided.”

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

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, if she will publish a list of the statutory instruments made since the last general election and set out the provisions in the parent act of Parliament which are relied upon to provide statutory authority for the making of that statutory instrument by 22 July 2025.

Answered by Lucy Powell

The information requested can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi.

We call on the UK Government to support the progression of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill, ensuring time for a Second Reading in the Commons. Even if a vote were to fail, this is an important issue and deserves open debate and a free vote in both Houses.

We think that if an independent body finds an MP has deliberately misled the public, their constituents should be able to trigger a binding recall vote. This could give voters the power to remove MPs who break their trust with the electorate, forcing a by-election.

Introduce a process that allows individuals to submit petitions anonymously where there is credible personal risk. Cases should be reviewed individually, with oversight from an independent authority to ensure safety and data protection.

Require all MPs to receive and reply to correspondence by email. People with low incomes may be unable to afford to contact an MP by post.

Parliament to implement a clear & enforceable ban on the use of mobile phones during all official proceedings within the House of Commons. We believe this measure will restore focus, decorum, and accountability, ensuring MPs fulfil their duties with the seriousness and respect the role demands.

Found: • The Commission agreed that the Leader of the House should disclose the cost of the project in the

Found: I understand that the Leader of the House will also be writing to the Chairs of the liaison committees

Found: The Leader of the House of Commons wrote to the Chair on 8 October 2024 asking us to review the operation

Found: (until November 2024) 2/2 Lord Greenhalgh (from November 2024 until January 2025) 0/2 *The Leader of the House

Found: (until November 2024) 2/2 Lord Greenhalgh (from November 2024 until January 2025) 0/2 *The Leader of the House

Found: This was subsequently confirmed, on 11 November 2020, by the Labour Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness

Found: Actually, I think that the Leader of the House is both those things: the Leader of the House is both

Found: The Leader of the House of Commons has been clear that she wants to see Parliament as the crucible of

Found: responses to Urgent Questions on the subject in the House (14 May 2025 and 2 June 2025), the Leader of the House

Found: Lord Anderson of Ipswich: I was told that today by the Shadow Leader of the House, and I was delighted

Found: Business and Trade Committee CC: The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House

Found: We are working with the Leader of the House and business managers to ensure an appropriate timetable

Question

To ask the Leader of the House whether she has contacted the Permanent Secretaries at the Foreign Office, the Department for Education, and the Department for Health and Social Care to ask for explanations as to why these departments have failed to answer questions for written answer, tabled in May but still awaiting an answer in July.

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

I have personally reminded Ministers of the 10 day target for their department throughout my time as Leader. As well as this my office routinely contacts departments and Secretaries of State who have breached the target, reminding them of their duty to ensure the target is met and to ascertain the reasons why deadlines have been missed. I have not at present written to any Permanent Secretaries but I will do so if the issue persists.

Found: Lords Amendments 4 to 7 and Lords Amendment 9 were tabled in the name of the Leader of the House of

Found: Lord True, the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, used speeches early in the committee stage debates

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