Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Ensure timely, transparent publication of documents, followed by oral statements for parliamentary scrutiny
Conclusion
In the examples cited, we do not agree that the publication of associated documents ahead of statements met the expectations of the general principle of the Code. However, subject to the Government making proper attempts to be open and transparent with Members, preferably through the timely and proper use of written ministerial statements, and to refrain from substantive prior trailing of the contents of these documents in the media, we accept that the general principle could be met through this route, however we would expect an oral statement to follow within a reasonable timeframe to provide Members with an appropriate opportunity to question Ministers. At all times we would expect the Government to follow the ‘Parliament first’ principle. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56)