The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is to launch an inquiry into how, where and when the most important government announcements are made to Parliament.
PACAC has announced the inquiry in response to a letter to PACAC chair Simon Hoare from the speaker of the house, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, asking the MPs to look into the issue.
Hoyle said: “There have been several recent examples of major policy announcements being made directly to the media rather than to Parliament first.”
The speaker of the house referenced the immigration white paper, changes to limits on prison sentences for recalled offenders, and the US-UK trade deal as recent examples of announcements which were briefed to the media before they were brought to the House.
Hoyle's letter, which was published on Thursday, called for PACAC to consider whether the ministerial code is sufficiently clear: "You and your committee will be in a good position to consider whether the code spells out adequately what the House should properly be able to expect of ministers and whether its requirements are observed with sufficient rigour by ministers," the letter says.
The speaker also asked PACAC to consider when oral or written statements should be required, “to allow the House the opportunity to question and scrutinise in addition to merely being informed”.
Hoyle had previously spoken out in October when chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her intention to change the government’s fiscal rules to the media without informing MPs first. Addressing the Commons in the wake of the fiscal rules announcement, Hoyle said that ministers “should expect to face proper, sustained scrutiny when these announcements are made”, telling both parties to “get your acts together… treat members with respect”.
The ministerial code, which was rewritten by Keir Starmer last year, currently states: “When Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of government policy should be made in the first instance in Parliament.”
The revised code places extra emphasis on "candour and openness", stating that it is a requirement of ministerial office, and says ministers “should be as open as possible with parliament and the public”.
Announcing an inquiry to look into the concerns raised by the speaker, Hoare expressed his agreement on the importance of the matter.
He said: “The committee is happy to take up this work following the request from the speaker. It is of the utmost importance that the ministerial code and the actions of ministers meet the high standards of parliamentary democracy while allowing the government to get their message out to the public effectively.”
The inquiry will consider whether the ministerial code is sufficiently clear about what is expected of minsters when major policy announcements are made. It will also probe the extent to which ministers are observing the rules.
PACAC is calling for evidence, which must be submitted by Friday 11th July.