7 Accepted in Part

Restrict major policy announcements when Parliament is not sitting to exceptional circumstances.

Recommendation
However, major planned policy announcements when the House is not in session should be restricted to those which are time sensitive or otherwise exceptional. Where it is necessary to make a major announcement when the House is in session but not sitting then a minister should come to the House at the earliest opportunity to inform the House and allow for scrutiny and consideration. The content of this statement should acknowledge that the normal practice of making the announcement first to Parliament was not followed and provide an explanation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 25)
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts this recommendation, agreeing with the committee's definition of 'in session' and committing to ensuring announcement details are made available to the House at the earliest opportunity through statements or letters. However, they maintain it is not always possible to notify the House first.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government Accepted in Part
4. The Government partially accepts this recommendation and agrees with the Committee’s definition of ‘in session’. As the Committee has recognised, it is not always possible to notify the House of the most important announcements first, for example where the Government is responding to events during recess. On such occasions the Government remains committed to ensuring that the details of announcements are made available to the House at the earliest opportunity, including through oral and written ministerial statements. Where necessary or appropriate, the Government will seek to update the House through alternative channels as soon as possible, such as sending letters to the relevant select committee chairs and opposition spokespeople.