Points of Order

Richard Holden Excerpts

Tuesday 13th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving notice that he intended to draw attention to this matter. As he knows, that is not a point of order. He is an experienced Member who serves on the Panel of Chairs, and he does not need any guidance from the Chair on how to take this matter further—no doubt he will pursue it. Those on the Treasury Bench will have heard his request for a statement or response from the appropriate Minister.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Is it a short point of order?

[Mr Holden]

Always, Madam Deputy Speaker.

The Cabinet Office guide to parliamentary work is clear:

“There should be no inconsistencies between the provision of information in answers to written questions and information given under the FOI Act”.

It also states that material disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act should also be disclosed to Parliament. On 2 December and 4 December in written parliamentary questions, I asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency holds about third-party intermediary organisations acting on behalf of Oxford city council and Oxfordshire county council in accessing vehicle keeper data. In both cases, the Minister for Local Transport, the hon. Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (Simon Lightwood), told me that this information was not “appropriate to disclose” because of commercial sensitivities. However, shortly afterwards, the DVLA released under FOI the code of contract with Oxfordshire county council, confirming contractual arrangements involving intermediaries and third-party access, with only personal data redacted. I would be grateful for your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker, on this apparent inconsistency. Might you raise it with the Leader of the House or the Departments concerned?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am grateful to the right hon. Member for giving notice of his point of order. I take it that he has informed the hon. Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (Simon Lightwood) that he intended to raise the matter in the House.

[Mr Holden]

indicated assent.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

The right hon. Member is nodding accordingly. As he knows, the Chair is not responsible for the accuracy of ministerial answers—if only we were—but I am sure the Table Office will be able to advise him on how he might pursue the matter further. Once again, I have no doubt that those on the Treasury Bench will have made a note and will pass on that information directly to the Minister involved.