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.

Found: the Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, and from the Shadow Leader of the House, the Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP .

Found: Letter from the Leader of the House of Commons to Mr Speaker on the Government’s forthcoming Elections

Found: Letter from Mr Speaker to the Leader of the House of Commons on the Government’s Elections Strategy and

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

Question

To ask The Leader of the House, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 16 December (HL12733), what plans she has to ensure Ministers fulfil the requirement set out in paragraph 266 of the Guide to Parliamentary Work, published on 19 November 2024, to answer questions on behalf of arm’s-length bodies, including non-departmental public bodies.

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

The Guide to Parliamentary Work is a useful tool for departments to use when interacting with Parliamentary processes. When answering Questions for Written Answer the guide states that “the formal time-limit for answering questions is 10 working days.” and that “it is a recognised right of Parliament that Members receive full and timely responses.” As stated in the guidance there is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current threshold is £850.

I have reminded Ministers and my office has contacted all Parliamentary Teams about this guidance and the requirements in relation to arm's-length bodies including non-departmental public bodies mentioned in paragraph 266.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in the Cabinet Office, including those appointed by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Leader of the House of Lords.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Information related to Direct Ministerial Appointments can be found on gov.uk.

Question

To ask The Leader of the House how many private member's bills introduced in the Commons in this session have received Royal Assent.

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

The following private member’s bills introduced in the Commons have received Royal Assent this session:

• Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025

• Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025

• Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025

• Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025

Question

To ask The Leader of the House what plans she has to contact the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ask why they have not yet answered HL11657, tabled on 5 November but still awaiting an answer in December.

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

As Leader, I met Permanent Secretaries from across Government Departments in November this year. During the meeting I stressed the importance of responding to Questions for Written Answer within the 10 day target. Alongside this my office keeps close oversight of departments who have outstanding responses. I also regularly discuss parliamentary performance with Ministers in a group setting and individually.

This specific question HL11657 was answered on the 19th December.

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.

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

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