Contents
1 The House’s power to call for papers
The nature of the power to call for papers
2 Exercising the power through a motion for return
Use of the power by Ministers: motions for unopposed return
Motions for unopposed return: practice
Motions for return not moved by Ministers
Papers sought in Opposition motions for return
Compliance with resolutions and orders of the House calling for papers
Compliance with recent resolutions for papers from Opposition motions
The resolution of the House of 13 November 2018
3 Issues arising from recent practice
Government conventions and statutory provisions on disclosing information
Should the House restrict the types of paper it is entitled to demand?
Other Government conventions on the release of information
Should the House change the way it handles motions for return?
The Government’s concerns over existing practice
Conclusions and recommendations
Annex: motions for return in the 2017–19 Session
List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament
Published: 20 May 2019