Department for Education IT glitch leaves MPs wanting answers

Department has failed to respond to over 560 MP questions due to system problems

Responses from the Department for Education to MPs' issues raised in the Commons have been delayed by the department's system for tracking questions put down by MPs.

The "technical failure" was revealed by deputy government business manager David Heath following protests from MPs over 563 questions which are still awaiting reply.

Heath said there had been a specific problem within the Department for Education because of a technical failure in the IT system that it uses to track parliamentary questions.

He said: "The problem has now been identified and fixed, and officials are working towards providing outstanding responses as quickly as possible.

"The Member for Gateshead will today have received a letter explaining the delay in those terms.

"I hope, Mr Speaker, that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, and I know that the department would wish to apologise to any Member of the House who has been inconvenienced by the delay caused by these circumstances."

Commons Speaker John Bercow said what had happened was "both regrettable and unsatisfactory".