2.2.4 – The ways in which Parliament interacts with the Executive.
This week, David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, gave a Ministerial Statement following the wrongful release of a sex offender from HMP Chelmsford. But what are Ministerial Statements and why are they such an important part of the parliamentary system?
What is a Ministerial Statement?
A Ministerial Statement is a formal announcement to Parliament given by a Government Minister. This may be a senior Minister, like the Prime Minister of a Secretary of State, or a more junior Minister. A Ministerial Statement can be given in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords and it can be either an oral statement or a written statement.
Ministerial Statements are a way for Government to:
- Inform Parliament about new government decisions or developments
- Explain significant events and the government’s approach towards them
- Update MPs or Peers on an ongoing situation
When are they given?
It is up to the Government to decide when, and if, to give a Ministerial Statement. However, by convention, the Government will be expected to do so if a political issue emerges that MPs feel needs explanation or scrutiny. There is no fixed schedule for Ministerial Statements, however, they almost always occur early in the parliamentary day, taking place after scheduled Oral Questions and any Urgent Questions granted by the Speaker. This position in the parliamentary day underlines the importance of Ministerial Statements.
Some examples of occasions on which a Ministerial Statement might be given include:
- After the Prime Minister has been at an international conference.
For example, in November 2024, Keir Starmer delivered a statement to the House of Commons following the COP29 Climate Summit.
- When the Prime Minister has decided to deploy British Forces in military action.
For example, a Ministerial Statement was given following the decision by Rishi Sunak to authorise military strikes against Houthi Rebels in January 2024.
- When a new policy is being announced
For example, a Ministerial Statement was given in July 2025 when the UK Government announced they were undertaking a Strategic Defence Review.
- In response to a major international event
For example, in July 2025 Keir Starmer gave a Ministerial Statement following the decision to recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state.
- In response to a domestic situation
For example, David Lammy gave a Ministerial Statement in October 2025 following the wrongful release from HMP Chelmsford of a convicted sex offender who was scheduled for deportation.
What happens in an Oral Ministerial Statement?
In an Oral Ministerial Statement, a Government Minister will read a speech to Parliament. Their Shadow Minister (their equivalent position in the Official Opposition) will then give a speech and raise any questions they have for the Minister. Where possible, it is a convention that a copy of the statement is given to senior opposition figures first to enable effective scrutiny.
Following this, the Speaker will call on other MPs to scrutinise the Minister and ask any questions they have about the issue at hand. These will be both frontbench MPs from other opposition parties and also a number of backbench MPs. The Speaker will attempt to call on a range of MPs, based on factors including their party affiliation, their seniority, their constituency (and any links to the issue). However, by convention, the Speaker will always try to call on the Chair of any Select Committee that has oversight of the issue. For example, if the Ministerial Statement was about a major Police incident, the Speaker would allow a question from Karen Bradley, their current Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Famously, in a Ministerial Statement on 12th February 2019, during the impasses over Brexit, Theresa May was at the Dispatch Box for two hours and fifteen minutes answering questions from MPs following a Special European Council Meeting.
Often, if a Ministerial Statement is given in the House of Commons, it will be repeated in the House of Lords. If there is a relevant Minister in the Lords, it will be conducted by them If not, a Government Spokesperson will often read the text of the Commons Statement.
Why are Ministerial Statements so important?
Ministerial Statements are an essential part of parliamentary scrutiny. They ensure that the Government is kept accountable to Parliament, and, through MPs, to the public. They allow Ministers to explain and justify their decisions and also allow MPs to scrutinise and challenge them. Under Individual Ministerial Responsibility, there is an ongoing expectation that Ministers make themselves accountable to Parliament and this is one of the key mechanisms through which they do this.
Why might Governments voluntarily give Ministerial Statements?
Importantly, Ministerial Statements are often held on problematic issues. By addressing the issue front-on, the Government can be seen to be transparent and inviting scrutiny. If they were to avoid giving a Ministerial Statement, there is a good chance an Opposition MP may be granted an Urgent Question by the Speaker, which undoubtedly has the effect of giving the impression that the Government is avoiding scrutiny.
Why does the Speaker keep getting upset at the Government following Ministerial Statements?
The Current Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has shown his displeasure at both the current and previous Government following Ministerial Statements. This is because he feels that th Government should account for their actions in Parliament first, before doing so in any other medium. However, Governments have a tendency to brief the press before speaking to Parliament first. They do this for a number of reasons. However, most prominent is the attempt to frame the story how they want it framed and to set the tone of the narrative about it.
Just one example of the Speaker’s fury is below:
Article Summary
Ministerial Statements are a fundamental mechanism of parliamentary scrutiny in the UK. They are a key way that Ministers fulfil the requirement of the Ministerial Code to make themselves accountable to Parliament and are important to the ability of Opposition MPs to hold the government to account.
Glossary of Terms
Backbench MP – An ordinary MP who has no significant role of responsibility within their party.
Frontbench MP – An MP who is given responsibility within a party for a certain area of policy.
Ministerial Statement – A written or oral statement given in the House of Commons or House of Lords about something within a Minister’s area of responsibility.
Shadow Minister – An MP or Lord who is responsible for particular scrutiny of a Government Minister.
Last Updated – 27.10.25