Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 October 2017, HCWS199 on Opposition Day Debates, if she will adopt the approach taken by her predecessor that when a motion tabled by an Opposition party has been approved by the House, the relevant Minister will respond to the resolution of the House by making a statement no more than 12 weeks after the debate.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
It is vital that the Government sets out its position on matters and this is usually done during the debate, in particular in the Minister’s closing remarks that respond to the points that have been raised. The Government will always listen carefully to the views of the House and will continue to make regular oral or written statements to announce policy developments, provide updates and respond to events.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 October 2017, HCWS199 on Opposition Day Debates and the Answer of 1 November 2017 to Question 110093, whether the Government remains committed to that convention to respond to the resolution of the House by making a statement no more than 12 weeks after the debate.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer the hon. gentleman to my response during business questions on 28 January (Official Report, col. 570). It is vital that the Government sets out its position on motions tabled by the opposition. In my view that is best done during the debate, in particular in the Minister’s closing remarks that respond to the points that have been raised. The Government will always listen carefully to the views of the House and will continue to make regular oral or written statements to announce policy developments, provide updates and respond to events.
Asked by: Paula Sherriff (Labour - Dewsbury)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2017, HCWS 199, on Opposition Day debates, whether a ministerial response to a resolution of the House will take the form of a Written or Oral Statement.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October, the Government will respond to Opposition day resolutions within 12 weeks. It is intended that Ministers will attend the Chamber wherever possible but a Written Ministerial Statement may be provided from time to time.