Written Questions
(asked on 19th July 2023) - View Source
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many and what proportion of written parliamentary questions have been carded by the Table Office in each of the last 12 months that the House was sitting.
The IT programmes used by the Table Office do not separately record the number or proportion of questions that have been carded. The information requested could only be established by going through each of the 62,668 questions tabled in the periods specified, which would incur disproportionate expense. However, the figures for 3 July 2023, given below, are likely to be representative:
Published unamended or with style edits | 233 (78% of total processed) |
|
Published having been carded and subsequently discussed with Member/Member’s office | 28 (9%) |
|
TOTAL PUBLISHED |
| 261 |
Carded and not yet resolved/published | 23 (8%) | Of which 5 information readily available, 4 duplicate question, 14 other reason |
Carded and withdrawn | 12 (4%) | Of which 1 information readily available, 5 duplicate question, 6 other reason |
Withdrawn for other reasons | 2 |
|
TOTAL PROCESSED |
| 298 |
The Table Office can only put on to the Order Paper questions which comply with the rules of the House. Questions substantially the same as one already tabled are not published. If a question appears to be disorderly the Member is ‘carded’: asked to discuss with the Table Office how the question might be brought within the rules. The rules regarding questions are set out at 3.22 in Erskine May, which is available online: Rules of order regarding form and contents of questions - Erskine May - UK Parliament
The Table Office also provides tailored briefing and coaching in drafting questions for Members and their staff.