§ Lord Kilmanyasked the Leader of the House:
Whether she is aware that the practice of Ministers replying to a Question for Written Answer tabled by a noble Lord with the answer, "I shall write to my noble friend" (Hansard, 28th October, col. 607) deprives other noble Lords of any information at all and if allowed to spread could undermine the right of Members to question Ministers in this House.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Young)My noble friend has in mind a Question for Written Answer tabled on 21st October by my noble friend Lord Orr-Ewing which was answered on 28th October by my noble friend Lord Trefgarne (Hansard, 28th October, col 607). Parliament was prorogued on 28th October and Questions not answered by that date would, in the usual way, have lapsed.
I am not aware that this type of Answer is frequently resorted to, but I have asked my noble friends on the Front Bench to ensure that full answers to Questions for Written Answer are given except in special circumstances. If a noble Lord is told that the Minister will write to him, I will, where appropriate, ensure that copies of the letter are made available to other Members of the House. It is always open to a noble Lord to table further Questions for Written Answer to seek further information from the Government.