Points of Order

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Wednesday 21st May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Richard Tice (Boston and Skegness) (Reform)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I put on the record the sad passing yesterday of Patrick O’Flynn, a political journalist who was well known to many hon. Members? He died after a short battle with cancer. He was a Lobby journalist for some 20 years, spending many days, weeks and months in the Press Gallery. He will be much missed and I pass on the condolences of all hon. Members to his wife, Carole Ann, and his two children.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for his point of order. Patrick was a long-serving and well-respected member of the Lobby. I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in sending our condolences to his family, for somebody who was taken so young.

[Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance on how I can get a response from the Department for Work and Pensions. I have written to the Secretary of State in relation to one of my constituents, who was told by a first-tier tribunal that the DWP must make payments to him backdated to January 2020. The tribunal decision was in February and we have been chasing the Department for a response for over a month. Will you advise me on how I can get a response?

[Mr Speaker]

I think the hon. Lady knows exactly what she is going to do next, but she has certainly put the matter on the record and I hope Members on the Treasury Bench have heard. I find it pretty appalling that Government Departments are not answering correspondence from all Members, from all political parties, on time. In the end, Back Benchers are answerable to their constituents, and if Departments cannot provide a reply, they are letting down hon. Members. I hope the relevant officials are listening and answering as I speak.