Written Questions (Commons)

Written questions for answer by a specific department can be tabled by any MP. There are two types – ordinary and named day.

Ordinary written questions do not have to be answered on a specified day but MPs normally put them down for answer two days after they are tabled. In practice, answers, which appear in Hansard, are normally received within seven days, but this may be longer and a holding answer may be given.

Named day questions are tabled for answer on a specific day, with a minimum of two days' notice being normal. So-called 'planted' questions, placed by a back-bencher to allow a Minister to make an announcement via a written answer on the same day or the following day, are less common now, as they have been superseded by written ministerial statements.