Judith Boyce, Senior Clerk, Table OfficeJuly 2015

Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons

Volume of written PQs

• In the 2014-15 Session, 30,869 written PQs were tabled in the Commons– Most: 4,819 to the Department of Health– Least: 139 to the Wales Office– Most by one Member was 531

• In each of the previous two sessions around 44,000 written PQs were tabled

Table Office

Why do Members table PQs?

• A vital instrument of parliamentary scrutiny• To seek information or press for action, e.g.:

– To gather data and background information for a debate, campaign or frontbench portfolio

– To follow up a constituency or special interest group issue

– To get more detail or check progress on something that has been announced or said

• Other reasons?

Oral vs Written

• Chosen by random ‘shuffle’

• Limited information sought

• Opens the door to a supplementary

• Departmental responsibility crucial

• Unlimited (except Named Days)

• May be either open or very detailed

The role of the Table Office• All PQs are checked by the TO before tabling• We are checking:

– Spelling, sense, obvious errors– Style– Whether the question is ‘in order’ according to

the House’s rules• The TO has authority under the Speaker to make

changes• Where a change would be significant, we ‘card’

and seek a conversation with the Member

The rules of order for PQs

• Must have basis• Not seeking info readily available,

already provided or blocked• Not argumentative or providing info• Must engage Ministerial responsibility• Must not touch on matters before the

courts

Insider knowledge…• “If s/he will…” indicates a press for action• “Estimate” or “assessment”• “What representations s/he has received

on…”• Pattern of answering is very important, esp.

for Departmental responsibility and what information Departments make available

• Fuller answers may forestall further questions