Leader of the House

Latest News • Commons Appearances • Legislation • Select Committee • Publications • Written Questions

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.


View sample weekly alert

Secretary of State

Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Latest News (from Department Twitter Feed)

22 Oct 2020, 11:14 a.m.
📝 The @HouseofCommons business for the week commencing 2 November is as follows: https://t.co/vd7MncSOnO - Link
22 Oct 2020, 10:42 a.m.
📝 The @HouseofCommons business for the week commencing 2 November is as follows: https://t.co/a5DmbanEjZ - Link
View All Leader of the House Tweets

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
Date Type Title
Oct. 16 Urgent Questions Bullying and Harassment: Cox Report
Oct. 17 Westminster Hall Devolved Powers in Scotland
View All Leader of the House Commons Contibutions

Leader of the House has not tabled any Bills during the current Session.

Leader of the House Publications

Most Recent Publications
Date Title Type
Sep. 14 Why Parliament Works podcast - Transcripts Guidance and Regulation
Aug. 31 Leader of the House of Commons launches 'Why Parliament Works' podcast News and Communications
May. 08 Government introduces bill to tackle Palace of Westminster fire risk News and Communications
View All Leader of the House Publications

Leader of the House Written Questions

Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.

Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.

Latest Written Question
Date Title Questioner
5 Oct 2020, 1:05 p.m. Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour - Ealing, Southall) Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the time taken to respond to (a) written questions and (b) letters from hon. Members.

Answered by Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Government attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence and written questions. Some departments are seeing a significant increase in correspondence during the pandemic but it is vital that members are able to ask questions of departments on behalf of constituents with confidence that they will receive a timely and useful response. I have written to all members of Cabinet to remind them of the importance of this.
View All Leader of the House Written Question