Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Written Questions to his Department due for answer on (a) 26, (b) 27 and (c) 28 April (i) did not receive a substantive response on the named day and (ii) are still awaiting a substantive response; and what steps he is taking to ensure that hon. Members are able to hold him to account through Written Questions.

The information requested is shown in the following table, as of 30 April.

In total, 402 Written Questions from hon. Members and Noble Lords were due to be answered in April, with 280 or 70% of those due on 27, 28 and 29 April.

We take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and have put arrangements in place to ensure that Ministers continue to fulfil their Parliamentary duties whilst adhering to the Government’s guidance to work from home where possible.

In addition to Written Questions, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has provided regular oral statements to update Parliament on the Government’s response to COVID-19 and has appeared before the Health and Social Care Select Committee to provide evidence on the work of the Department.