The rules under which Ministers correct the record stem from a Procedure Committee report approved by the House in 2007. The report streamlined options for Ministers to correct inaccurate information provided to the Commons in order to improve the clarity and visibility of corrections.
Fifteen years on, there has been a significant transformation in how Parliamentary information is published and communicated. A shift to same-day publication online of Hansard and improvements in the House’s online video coverage raises expectations in terms of the availability and transparency of information and corrections relating to proceedings. Information about what is said in Parliament is now available more quickly and widely than ever before.
Following the Committee’s previous work on the subject, this inquiry will review the current system by which Ministers and backbench Members correct the parliamentary record, including whether arrangements allow them to provide information to Parliament efficiently and clearly.