Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 July 2026
Correspondence with The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Senior Deputy Speaker, House of Lords, relating to WPQs in the House of Lords, dated 15 June and 9 July
From: Procedure Committee
Inquiry: Written Parliamentary Questions
Summary
Cat Smith MP, Chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee, writes to Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede requesting detailed information about House of Lords procedures for Written Questions for Answer to support the Commons' inquiry into its Written Parliamentary Questions system. The Commons seeks data on question limits, recess arrangements, Table Office roles, and volume trends over five years.
Key findings
- House of Commons Procedure Committee is conducting an inquiry into Written Parliamentary Questions, including their purpose, interaction with Freedom of Information Act, distinction between Named Day and Ordinary questions, and daily submission limits.
- Commons acknowledges that House of Lords practice differs substantially from Commons practice due to the Lords being a self-regulating Chamber.
- Commons requests information on: limits to numbers of written questions per member and when introduced; arrangements for tabling during recess; Table Office roles in admissibility checking; and volume trends over five years.
- Response requested by 10 July 2026, with intention to publish as written evidence unless otherwise indicated.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Cat Smith MP, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, House of Commons Procedure Committee, House of Lords Procedure and Privileges Committee
Notable line
“… practice in respect of Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords differs substantially from practice in respect of Written Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons, not least due to the House of Lords being a self-regulating Chamber.”
Key Quotes
“I would like to welcome you to your post as Chair of the House of Lords Procedure and Privileges Committee. I look forward to working with you as closely as I did with your predecessor, The Lord Gardiner of Kimble.”
“We understand that practice in respect of Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords differs substantially from practice in respect of Written Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons, not least due to the House of Lords being a self-regulating Chamber.”
“It would be most helpful if we could have your response by the close of Friday 10 July. Unless you indicate otherwise, we would anticipate publishing your response as written evidence to the inquiry.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗