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<p>The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises the importance of
providing timely responses to Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) and every effort
is made to provide prompt responses to Members.</p><p>The House of Commons Procedure
Committee publishes statistics on a sessional basis and the Committee’s most recent
report on WPQs performance was published in <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/23275/documents/169765/default/"
target="_blank">July 2022.</a> This report noted that, in the 2021-22 session of Parliament,
DCMS answered 91% of ordinary questions substantively within five working days, and
90% of named day questions on the named day.</p><p>The department does not hold a
record of the average response time to WPQs and data provided by the House of Commons
Table Office does not reveal this information. The most recent Table Office performance
statistics show that between 3 February and 30 March 2023, DCMS answered 91% of all
ordinary questions within five working days, and 87% of all named day questions on
the named day. Statistics for April to September 2023 have not yet been provided by
the Table Office.</p><p>While DCMS answering performance exceeds the 85% timeliness
target expected by the Procedure Committee, we continually seek opportunities for
improvement; doing so in regular collaboration with other departments across Whitehall
to share best practice. DCMS has access to regular training led by the Parliamentary
Capability Team through the Government Campus. DCMS also runs regular training sessions
within the department to further improve the quality and timeliness of our responses
to written questions.</p>
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