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<p>As Leader of the House, I have a particular responsibility to encourage departments
to be punctual in answering written questions, but the content of each answer is a
matter for the minister concerned. All Ministers are accountable to the House for
those answers. That direct accountability is important: that is why Ministers in this
House must provide personally signed answers to members.</p><p> </p><p>To inform Ministers
in answering questions put to them, the Ministerial Code says that “It is of paramount
importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament”. It
also makes clear that “Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and
the public, refusing to provide information only when disclosure would not be in the
public interest”. In addition, the longstanding rules of this House on Questions for
Written Answer (rules that the House reaffirmed in agreeing to the Procedure Committee’s
5<sup>th</sup> Report of the 2014-15 Session) set out that all answers should be complete
and comprehensible.</p><p> </p><p>If any member has particular concerns about a response
that they have received that they consider does not adhere to these rules, I would
encourage them to raise it with me directly.</p><p> </p>
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