Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, Pursuant to the answer of 18 September 2024, to Question 5016, on Emily Middleton, how many written parliamentary question responses have cited a forthcoming FOI response.

The information requested is not held by the government. It is a matter for individual departments to determine how to respond to parliamentary questions from Members. However, the government's position regarding the relationship between the treatment of requests for information through parliamentary questions and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is unchanged. The Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), published by my office, states that “if information would be released under FOI, it would also be released in response to a WPQ”. I have written to all Members of Cabinet to remind departments and Ministers about the importance of providing full and timely responses to parliamentary questions.

The Procedure Committee monitors departmental PQ performance and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool. I look forward to working with the Committee on this.