Janet Finch-Saunders MS has urged Welsh Ministers to ‘open themselves up to scrutiny and respond to Members questions and letters as a matter of urgency.’ Her statement comes as a growing number of Members receive no response to Written Questions or direct letters submitted to Ministers. 

Many Members have turned to the Written Question system following an imposed limit on plenary contributions. Under Senedd rules, Ministers are asked to answer Written Questions within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. All written answers are published in the Record of Proceedings. Mrs Finch-Saunders has previously written to the Llywydd to raise her concerns about the effectiveness of the current virtual Plenary sittings. 

Commenting on the situation, Janet said: 

“Time and time again, Welsh Ministers are failing to adequately respond to important Written Questions and direct letters during agreed time frames.  

“Compounded with imposed limits on plenary contributions, this means that pertinent inquiries from hardworking and concerned members of the public are going unanswered. 

“Whilst I appreciate the pressure the Welsh Government is under during this rapidly evolving situation, proper checks and balances must be upheld if we are to maintain confidence in our public institutions.  

“As the official opposition in the Welsh Parliament, the Welsh Conservative Group has pledged to constructively hold the Welsh Labour Government to account throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“I urge the Welsh Ministers to open themselves to scrutiny and respond to Members questions and letters as a matter of urgency. 

ENDS