House of Commons · General Debate
24 October 2023 · 6 other contributors
Opened by Penny Mordaunt Con Nottingham East
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Penny Mordaunt raised concerns about correcting the record in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Proposes the expansion of the formal ministerial corrections process to all Members of Parliament, emphasising transparency and accountability. Acknowledges the current system for ministerial corrections is effective but highlights the need for a clear mechanism for other MPs to correct their records formally.
Highlights the importance of adhering to high standards of accountability and openness. Proposes improvements such as cross-referenced hyperlinks in corrections, easier access through a central corrections page.
Supports the motion for extending the correction process to other MPs and acknowledges the importance of transparency. Criticises the government's recent publication of documents during by-elections, suggesting it undermines the debate on transparency.
Called for transparency and accuracy in parliamentary debates, supported extending ministerial correction rules to all MPs. Emphasised the importance of having clear mechanisms for correcting inaccuracies, making it easier for members of the public to verify information.
Welcomed the report and supported creating a level playing field by allowing all MPs to correct records. Highlighted the importance of simplicity in corrections, such as correcting numerical errors, while also addressing more serious inaccuracies. Suggested further work is needed on persistent offenders who refuse to acknowledge mistakes.
Thanked the Procedure Committee for their work, acknowledged that it is difficult to provide statistics on deliberate misleading statements versus simple errors due to a lack of central corrections page. Emphasised that most errors are honest mistakes by Members and clarified that the report does not involve rewriting what was said in different contexts but focuses on factual inaccuracies at the time of speech.
Asked if there have been any thoughts about protections for Members who might find themselves on a public list of those making the most mistakes, raising concerns about potential attention or abuse due to fast-moving debates like during the pandemic.