{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768052.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":768052,"attributes":{"action":"Legislate to compel Ministers to answer direct questions at the Despatch Box","background":"Legislate so that Ministers who are asked questions in Parliament must either answer direct questions or acknowledge that they will not, and explain why they refuse to do so.","additional_details":"The effectiveness of questions would be greatly enhanced if ministers were required to answer them. Allowing the minister to refuse to answer while requiring an explanation allows for issues such as national security or ongoing police investigations to be explained.\r\nFor example, according to a simple scan of Hansard, in the last three months’ PMQs, the Prime Minister evaded or did not answer 26 of 43 substantive direct exchanges from the Leader of the Opposition.\r\nThis is Parliament at its worst!","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":7,"created_at":"2026-04-22T14:47:40.573Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T10:44:26.282Z","rejected_at":"2026-06-01T10:44:18.686Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-04-30T18:37:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"duplicate","details":"You may wish to sign this petition which calls for the same action:\r\n\r\nIntroduce standards for answers to PMQs to be enforced by the Speaker \r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/762566"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}