News story

5th December 2002

More Questions Than Answers

There are too many examples of Ministers failing to provide proper replies to Parliamentary Questions, according to a report by the Public Administration Select Committee on Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions published today.

The report highlights the specific case of the Department of Work and Pensions deliberately misleading Steve Webb MP.

Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:

“It is vital that MPs get the information to which they are entitled. All too often this is not the case.

“The Department of Work and Pensions has been asked to review the way it answers questions. However, the latest information I have received under the Data Protection Act reveals that its response has been greater secrecy.

“It just proves that the apology I received was little more than the Government admitting they have been found out.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. By requesting personal information through the Data Protection Act, Steve Webb MP, obtained an unpublished Parliamentary answer outlining the number of cases of suspended attendance allowance benefits for pensioners in hospital. DWP Minister, Maria Eagle, told Mr Webb in the official Parliamentary answer that the information was not available.

Following a further question, Ms Eagle again denied that the data existed in the form requested by Mr Webb. It was only after Mr Webb used the Data Protection Act that he discovered not only that the information existed but also that the Government was aware it existed and so had knowingly misled Parliament.