Open Lines | Published letters in reply to parliamentary questions to Executive Agencies 1991-1992

One of the most effective ways in which Parliament can probe the actions and policies of Ministers and their Departments is through Parliamentary Questions. In the early 1990s, this vital constitutional procedure was undermined by the creation of a large number of “executive agencies” to perform important functions of government. Ministers refused to answer questions relating to those functions. Instead, the question was passed to the chief executive of the agency, who wrote to the MP. The reply was not published in Hansard, but a copy was placed in the House of Commons Library where, in theory, it could be seen by other M.P.s and members of the public.

The eleven monthly issues of Open Lines published between July 1991 and August 1992 contain nearly 400 letters to Members of Parliament, written by chief executives of ‘Next Steps’ agencies in the previous month in reply to Parliamentary Questions on subjects relating to social security and employment. They were retyped, published and distributed by Paul Flynn MP and his research assistant, Tony Lynes, supported by a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. They were awarded a Freedom of Information Award for their work.

From October 1992, the letters were themselves published in Hansard. Publication of Open Lines was therefore no longer necessary and ceased. The eleven issues published here, however, remain a unique source, covering most of the period for which the information given in them was not published either in Hansard or anywhere else.

Open Lines No. 1 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in June 1991

One of the most effective ways in which Parliament can probe the actions and policies of Ministers and their Departments is through Parliamentary Questions. In recent months, this vital constitutional procedure has been undermined by the creation of a large number of “executive agencies” (50 at the end of April 1991) to perform important functions of government. Ministers refuse to answer questions relating to those functions.

Open Lines No. 2 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in July 1991

Thanks for your letters of appreciation for the first edition of OPEN LINES. MPs, civil servants and, above all, political, charitable and educational bodies who rely on Hansard as a unique source of information sent messages of support and have demanded this second issue.

Open Lines No. 3 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in October 1991

The right of Members of Parliament to put questions to Ministers on matters for which their Departments are responsible, and the duty of Ministers to answer those questions, are a fundamental safeguard of our liberties.

Open Lines No. 4 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in November 1991

Nationalisation of OPEN LINES is now official Government policy. It was announced by the Lord President, Mr John MacGregor, in a written answer on November 27. This is good news – but not good enough. Publication of information supplied in reply to parliamentary questions is the responsibility of either the Government or the House of Commons.

Open Lines No. 5 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in December 1991

This issue of OPEN LINES, covering the month of December 1991, brings to 164 the total number of replies to parliamentary questions, in the form of letters from government agencies, which have been made available in this way to interested organisations and individuals in the past six months.

Open Lines No. 6 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in January 1992

Nearly 200 letters from officials of Government agencies to M.P.s, replying to parliamentary questions, have been published in OPEN LINES since the first issue appeared in July 1991. It remains the only practical means by which members of the public, particularly those working for local authorities and voluntary bodies, can gain access to the information given in theseletters – information which in the past would have been freely available in the pages of Hansard.

Open Lines No. 7 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in February 1992

This issue of OPEN LINES – possibly the last — will be published in the midst of a general election campaign. The outcome of the election will affect the future standards of public services not just for the next five years but for decades to come.

Open Lines No. 8 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in March 1992

OPEN LINES was first published by my research assistant, Tony Lynes, in July 1991. There have now been eight issues, each containing letters received by Members of Parliament in the previous month in reply to parliamentary questions.

Open Lines No. 9 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in May 1992

In the eighth issue of OPEN LINES, published before the General Election, I wrote: “It is an affront to the democratic process that publication of information of this kind should have to be undertaken by a private individual subsidised by a public spirited foundation. The newly elected House of Commons should insist on urgent action to bring this shameful situation to an end.”

Open Lines No. 10 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in June 1992

In successive issues of OPENLINES, I have called for a return to the traditional practice of Parliamentary Questions being answered by Ministers themselves, not by officials. There is no sign of that happening. Ministers are, understandably, very happy with the new arrangement by which, under cover of the “Next Steps” agencies, they can avoid direct responsibility to Parliament for a wide range of public services.

Open Lines No. 11 – Letters sent to Members of Parliament in July 1992

With this issue, OPEN LINES ceases publication. It is appropriate, therefore, to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have contributed to its success.

Open Lines: Index to issues 1-11

Please see the Index of topics, which is a linked version of the Index which highlights in which issue each term appeared.