TIME TAKEN TO ANSWER WRITTEN PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Early day motion 869, tabled 14 February 2002 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 31 members.

That this House notes that the length of time taken by Ministers in the Department of Health to answer parliamentary questions far exceeds the accepted convention of one week; notes that it is taking up to three months and sometimes longer for answers to be supplied by Ministers; further notes that parliamentary questions are one of the few remaining ways that honourable Members are able to hold Her Majesty's Government to account and scrutinise its policies and programmes; believes that Ministers are either deliberately withholding information until it is no longer relevant or are incompetent; and calls upon the House authorities to investigate the reasons for the backlog of unanswered questions to ensure that this House is not bypassed or prevented from undertaking scrutiny of the Executive.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 25, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 3.