Government Statement
The Procedure Committee has concluded its review of the written parliamentary questions (WPQ) system, noting that the number of questions had risen drastically, with responses failing to meet expectations in terms of quality. The inquiry was launched in November 2025, involving a survey of MPs and the receipt of written evidence. The committee identified a need for a lower volume of input but a higher quality of output, advocating for personal approval of WPQs submitted by staff via MemberHub. They recommended limits on WPQs during recesses and a renaming of the 'carding' process to 'querying'. The committee also suggested a uniform e-tabling cut-off time of 4 pm on Mondays to Thursdays to improve consistency. They proposed renaming 'named day' questions to 'priority questions', with a three-working-day deadline for answers. The committee urged the Government to address concerns regarding the grouping of questions and the use of hyperlinks in responses. They recommended the introduction of a public-facing dashboard on the parliamentary website to track performance in answering WPQs. The committee emphasised the need for Members to consider the cost to the public purse and the use of alternatives to WPQs. They highlighted the cautious use of AI in content creation. The committee recommended a motion endorsing the report to ensure its findings are implemented.