Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 91457, on Written Question: Government Responses, if he will undertake an assessment of whether the Cabinet Office provides full and helpful responses to Parliamentary Questions.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

It is a matter for individual departments to determine how to respond to parliamentary questions from Members. However, Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account and I am committed to ensuring that Members receive full and timely responses.

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, what assessment has been made of practices of Hon. Members who will not respond to correspondence from overseas electors who are assigned to their Parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Government recognises the importance of MPs responding to correspondence in a timely and consistent manner. It is for each individual MP to determine how best to perform their parliamentary duties, including the management of correspondence from constituents resident in the UK and overseas. MPs are ultimately accountable to their constituents at the ballot box.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving parliamentary scrutiny procedures for international trade agreements.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Effective parliamentary scrutiny of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is vital. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG) gives Parliament the statutory right to scrutinise treaties prior to ratification, and includes the power to block ratification. Parliament must also pass legislation that may be necessary to implement a treaty.

In addition, the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee plays an important role in scrutinising the Government’s trade policy.

Taken together, the current framework facilitates robust parliamentary scrutiny of FTAs.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, what mechanisms are available to hon. Members to seek clarification or further information when a Department or public body is considered not to have provided a full or clear response to a Written Parliamentary Question.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Parliament has a right to scrutinise Ministers, and hold the Government and public bodies to account. I expect Hon. Members to receive both timely and helpful responses to their questions.

There are a number of mechanisms available to Members such as raising concerns on the floor of the House, including with myself at the weekly Business Question, or by writing to the relevant department or public body. I would also encourage Hon. Members to speak with myself or my office to further pursue these matters.

In addition, the House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors departmental performance in responding to Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs). The Committee recently launched an inquiry into WPQs, and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool to hold Departments to account.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, what steps hon. Members can take to seek additional information from the Government in instances where a response to a written parliamentary question is considered incomplete or unclear.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Parliament has a right to scrutinise Ministers, and hold the Government and public bodies to account. I expect Hon. Members to receive both timely and helpful responses to their questions.

There are a number of mechanisms available to Members such as raising concerns on the floor of the House, including with myself at the weekly Business Question, or by writing to the relevant department or public body. I would also encourage Hon. Members to speak with myself or my office to further pursue these matters.

In addition, the House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors departmental performance in responding to Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs). The Committee recently launched an inquiry into WPQs, and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool to hold Departments to account.

The Recall of MPs Act 2015 captures criminals but ignores negligence. Constituents have no recourse when MPs systematically refuse to engage or explain decisions. We must amend the Act to recognise 'Systemic Non-Representation' as a breach of duty, ensuring MPs cannot silence those they represent.

We petition the House of Commons to introduce standing orders governing Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to ensure that the number of questions allocated to party leaders are shared equally among the leaders of all recognised opposition parties in the House of Commons, including smaller parties.

Ban local councils from designating people as “intentionally homeless” and relieving themselves of their duty if someone refuses an offer of housing more than 90 minutes away. Councils should be able to make long distance offers, but such offers would not discharge their duty.

The Government should fund free school meals for children who are home-educated and who are medically unfit to attend school or are awaiting school placement. We believe no child should go hungry due to illness or lack of an appropriate school place.

As they have under Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, we demand all titles in England and Wales are amended to the "Allodial" Tenure and hold absolute title.

Introduce a national system which requires all eligible British citizens to vote in UK elections. We believe this could ensure full participation, fair representation, and a stronger, more accountable democracy across the UK.

Found: Letter from the Leader of the House Commons to Lord Strathclyde regarding consequential amendments powers

Found: Letter from the Chair to the Leader of the House of Commons relating to changes to the process for allocating

Found: Letter from Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Found: terms as expressed, or chooses to disagree with it.”27 PACAC welcomed a commitment from the Leader of the House

Found: I commend the motion to the House.”1 —Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons, 15 June 2010

Found: Letter from The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Leader of the House, and The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds

Found: We are working with the Leader of the House to ensure an appropriate timetable for the legislation that

Found: A weekly Business Statement made by the Leader of the House of Commons sets out the future business

Found: A weekly Business Statement made by the Leader of the House of Commons sets out the future business

Found: and Labour MPs are: the Northern Ireland Office; the Scotland Office and the Office of the Leader of the House

Found: who receives an unsatisfactory answer can table further questions, raise the matter with the Leader of the House

Found: Procedure Committee Oral evidence: Work of the Leader of the House 10 12 25, HC 509 Wednesday 10 December

Found: from Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee to The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Leader of the House

Question

To ask The Leader of the House to list the private member's bills that started in the Commons in this session and that are now being considered in the Lords, indicating the parliamentary stage they have reached so far.

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

The following private member’s bills that started in the Commons are now being considered in the Lords:

• Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - Committee stage

• Licensing Hours Extensions Bill - Committee stage

• Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill - Committee stage

• Rare Cancers Bill - Second Reading

• Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill - Committee stage

The list of private member’s bills being considered in the Lords and their stage is available and kept updated in the House of Lords Business Paper document and on the Parliament website.

Question

To ask The Leader of the House to list the Lords-starting private member's bills that have had second readings in this session, indicating which of those have begun their committee stages.

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

The following Lords-starting private member’s bills have had second readings this session, those that have begun committee stages are indicated accordingly:

• Support for Infants and Parents etc (Information) Bill [HL]

• Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Regulated and Other Activities (Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill [HL]

• Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]

• Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill [HL]

• Complications from Abortions (Annual Report) Bill [HL]

• Imprisonment for Public Protection (Resentencing) Bill [HL]

• Women, Peace & Security Bill [HL]

• Home School Education Registration and Support Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Listed Investment Companies (Classification etc) Bill [HL]

• Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL]

• Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Images and Videos (Offences) Bill [HL]

• Public Authority Algorithmic and Automated Decision-Making Systems Bill [HL]

• Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [HL]

• Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill [HL]

• Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Mortgage Prisoners Inquiry Bill [HL]

• Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

• Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL] - Committee stage

The list of private member’s bills being considered in the Lords and their stage is available and kept updated in the House of Lords Business Paper document and on the Parliament website.

Question

To ask the Leader of the House what was the cost of answering Questions for Written Answer about Israel and Gaza in the past two years.

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

In the past two years the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Department have received 323 Questions for Written Answer from Members of the House of Lords on Israel and/or Gaza. There would be a disproportionate cost in seeking to identify the exact cost of answering each question, the maximum total cost to the Department to answer all 323 is up to £274, 550.

Found: It was introduced in 1975 and is named after the then Leader of the House of Commons, Edward Short.

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