The Government recognises the importance of effective and timely handling of correspondence with members of the House of Lords. Government departments should aim to provide a substantive response to routine correspondence within a maximum of 20 working days. However, sometimes circumstances dictate that it will not be possible to provide a response within this timeframe. In such instances, departments are advised to issue a \u2018holding\u2019 response until a more substantive response can be provided.<\/p>
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report detailing departmental performance in the handling of correspondence from members of both Houses. Lord Young of Cookham set out the 2017 performance figures in a Written Statement on 26 June 2018 (HLWS771). The 2018 performance figures will be published in summer 2019.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-10T16:30:31.02Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ministers: Correspondence"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House whether there is a protocol relating to whether letters to ministers from members of the House of Lords should receive replies; and if so, how quickly replies should be sent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2569", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Greaves"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Greaves"} ], "uin" : "HL11781"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029630", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029630/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The proposed dates for the Committee stage of the Trade Bill were advertised in Forthcoming Business <\/em>on 3 January, and are as follows: Monday 21 January, Wednesday 23 January, Monday 28 January, and Wednesday 30 January. Dates for further stages will be advertised in Forthcoming Business <\/em>in the usual way.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T16:47:34.627Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trade Bill"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House what will be the timetable for consideration of the Trade Bill in this House.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/573", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke"}
], "uin" : "HL12516"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036932", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036932/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The committee stage of the Trade bill has been arranged in the usual way, having been subject to ongoing discussions in the Usual Channels. So far the three of an anticipated four dates for Committee stage are 21, 23 and 30 January and they have been advertised in Forthcoming Business. The remaining day will be rescheduled as a day had to be set aside for for the House to have a further debate under section 13 of the EU (Withdrawal) Act, which is now scheduled for 28 January. The recommended intervals between Bill stages are minimums, and it is not unusual for there to be a longer pause between stages than the recommended minimum interval.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T15:48:32.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trade Bill"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House why dates for the committee stage of the Trade Bill in the House of Lords were not scheduled more quickly after the bill's second reading.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3701", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness McDonagh"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness McDonagh"}
], "uin" : "HL12574"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036939", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036939/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " So far three of an anticipated four days have been scheduled and advertised (21, 23 and 30 January). The remaining day will be rescheduled as a day had to be set aside for the House to have a further debate under section 13 of the EU (Withdrawal) Act which is now scheduled for 28 January. The progress of all business is, as always, in the hands of the House. But the Usual Channels have agreed to those dates on the assumption that they should allow Committee Stage to be completed inside four days and the Usual Channels are working to get the remaining day scheduled within the first week of February.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T15:59:23.133Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trade Bill"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House how many days of committee stage she estimates will be required for the Trade Bill; and when she anticipates the committee stage being completed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3651", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Triesman"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Triesman"}
], "uin" : "HL12581"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037583", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037583/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is my intention that we should create the time to do our business properly. I note that so far all bills associated with Brexit have been scheduled in accordance with the minimum intervals recommended in The Companion. As the Noble Lord will recall, from time to time the recommended minimum intervals have, with Usual Channels agreement, been dispensed with when it has been necessary for the House to do so. I undertake to work with my counterparts in the usual channels to ensure that business continues to be scheduled in a way which allows proper scrutiny.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T15:46:36.98Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House what estimate she has made of the parliamentary time required in the House of Lords to complete the remaining Brexit related bills before 29 March 2019; and whether the time available allows for the usual minimum intervals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3504", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Bassam of Brighton"}
], "uin" : "HL12642"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1038908", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1038908/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The next scheduled Friday sitting is for 1 February, as advertised in Forthcoming Business. Further sittings will be advertised in due course. There are currently no plans to consider Government business on Fridays, but as is always the case the sittings of the House are subject to the progress of business.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T17:24:00.25Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House whether she intends to invite the House of Lords to sit on Fridays until 29 March in order to allow time for proper scrutiny of pre-Brexit legislation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"}
], "uin" : "HL12745"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1038909", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1038909/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There are currently no plans to sit on weekends. As is always the case, the sittings of the House are subject to the progress of business.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T15:45:20.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House whether she intends to invite the House to sit on Saturdays until 29 March in order to allow time for proper scrutiny of pre-Brexit legislation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"}
], "uin" : "HL12746"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1059189", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1059189/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " A date for the prorogation of the current session has not yet been set. The length of the first session was extended to give Parliament more time to consider the crucial legislation relating to Brexit.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-20T11:32:10.923Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Parliamentary Session"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House when she expects the current session of Parliament to end.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/579", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Foulkes of Cumnock"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Foulkes of Cumnock"}
], "uin" : "HL13578"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/106156", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/106156/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The process for tabling oral questions was considered in detail in the 2012-13 session. In response to concerns raised about the current \u201cfirst-come-first-served\u201d system - including a concern about the requirement to queue raised by my Noble Friend, Lady Sharples - the Procedure Committee proposed the introduction of a ballot in its place (Procedure Committee, 3rd Report, Session 2012-13). The House remitted the issue back to the Procedure Committee for further consideration (HL Deb 9 Jan 2013, cols 145-172). <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4205", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Stowell of Beeston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-18T14:34:08.47Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Oral Questions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House whether she will propose to the Procedure Committee a review of the system for tabling oral questions in the House of Lords in respect of the requirement for members to queue.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1665", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Avebury"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Avebury"}
], "uin" : "HL2628"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1109868", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1109868/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In the last 20 years the closure motion has been moved in the House of Lords 13 times: on 22 July 1999; 6 October 2003; 17 January 2011; 19 January 2011; 21 October 2011; 31 January 2014; 15 March 2019; and six times on 4 April 2019.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4329", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Evans of Bowes Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-09T15:21:52.36Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "92"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House of Lords"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Closure Motions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House how many times the closure motion has been moved in the House of Lords in the last 20 years; and on what dates.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Brabazon of Tara"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Brabazon of Tara"}
], "uin" : "HL15060"}
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That further review did not identify a clear consensus as to whether a ballot was preferred to the \u201cfirst-come-first-served\u201d system (see Procedure Committee, 5th Report, Session 2012-13; see also HL Deb 24 April 2013, cols 1406-1417).
I know that strong views persist on both sides of the argument about this issue. I will write to the Chairman of the Procedure Committee on my Noble Friend\u2019s behalf to suggest that the matter might be discussed at a future meeting of the Procedure Committee.<\/p>