Points of Order

Alison Bennett Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

I thank the hon. Member for notice of his point of order. I have to say that I have received no notice from Ministers that they intend to make a further statement on this matter, but Ministers on the Front Bench will have heard his point of order.

[Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex) (LD)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. At the start of this month, I submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the Department of Health and Social Care on the subject of the independent commission into adult social care. A number of those questions, despite being due for answer on the 7th of this month, remain entirely unanswered as of today, the 22nd of this month. The Department has also declined to estimate the number of hours spent on the commission by the Department since July 2024 on the grounds that the cost of such an estimation would be too great. I ask your advice, Madam Deputy Speaker, about how I can get those questions answered for the benefit of my constituents, and so that I can fulfil my duty in holding the Government to account.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of her point of order. The timeliness and adequacy of answers to written questions are not matters for the Chair, but all hon. Members are entitled to expect full and helpful answers on time. She might like to raise the matter with the Procedure Committee, who I know take a close interest in these matters.