CONDUCT OF THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

Early day motion 405, tabled 6 November 1997 by Baroness Shephard of Northwold (Conservative). Signed by 118 members.

That this House notes the extraordinary reluctance of the Minister without Portfolio to answer questions in this House; questions whether a Minister can be said to be accountable to Parliament when he has yet to answer oral questions from honourable Members of Parliament; calls on the Prime Minister to ensure the proper accountability of his Ministers at all times; and looks forward to the Minister, the honourable Member for Hartlepool, meeting his commitment to account for his policy and actions to this House, by doing so for a longer period than a mere five minutes every few weeks.

Signatures by party: Conservative 117, Liberal Democrat 1.