Parliament Follow-up
Menu

How governments respond to committee reports

Last checked: 22 October 2026 · How follow-up works

Governments reply to committee reports in writing. In the UK, departments answer Public Accounts Committee reports through a Treasury Minute published on GOV.UK 1, and other select committees get a reply the government has undertaken to send within two months 2. In Uganda, a minister lays a Treasury Memorandum on action taken on House resolutions 3. Kenya's Committee on Implementation reports on the status of House resolutions on committee reports 4. Ghana's committee chair said agencies must report back within one month, as reported by the Daily Graphic 5.
UK reply to Public Accounts Committee
Treasury Minute 1
UK reply deadline for select committees
Two months, the government's undertaking 2
Latest UK progress report found
Treasury Minutes progress report, June 2026, published 4 June 2026 6
Uganda reply
Treasury Memorandum laid by a finance minister 3
Kenya follow-up body
Committee on Implementation 4

United Kingdom: Treasury Minutes

HM Treasury says government departments respond to Public Accounts Committee reports through a Treasury Minute. GOV.UK holds all Treasury Minutes published since 2010 in one collection 1. The collection lists Treasury Minutes for September 2026, published 30 September 2026, and for August 2026, published 2 October 2026 1.

The government then reports on progress. The Treasury Minutes progress report of June 2026, published 4 June 2026, is described as a record of the government's progress on implementing the committee's recommendations. It covers sessions from 2010-12 to 2025-26 6.

United Kingdom: other select committees

For other Commons committees, the UK Parliament says the government has undertaken to reply within two months of a report's publication. The same page says the government usually has 60 days to reply to a departmental committee's recommendations, and ministers may ask the committee for more time 2.

The Public Accounts Committee home page shows, for each inquiry, the date a government response was published or the date it is due 7.

Uganda: Treasury Memoranda

In Uganda, the government reports on action taken through a Treasury Memorandum. On 9 July 2019, the Minister of State for Finance (Planning), David Bahati, laid a Treasury Memorandum on the House resolutions on a Public Accounts Committee report on the Auditor General's report for FY 2014/15. The Speaker referred it to the Public Accounts Committee 3.

On 18 January 2023 the House adopted pending reports and the Speaker said they would go to the finance ministry for a Treasury Memorandum, and cited Article 163(5) of the Constitution 8.

Kenya and Ghana: follow-up through committees

Kenya's National Assembly has a Committee on Implementation. Its page lists reports on the implementation status of inquiries, petitions and resolutions, and on the implementation status of House resolutions on committee reports 4. The Assembly changed its Standing Orders in 2023 so Cabinet Secretaries answer questions in plenary on Wednesday afternoons. Before that, Cabinet Secretaries answered through committees, which reported to the House 9.

In Ghana, the Public Accounts Committee chair, Abena Osei-Asare, said that once the House adopts a report, every ministry, department and agency cited must implement the recommendations and report back to the committee within one month, as reported by the Daily Graphic on 20 August 2025 5. Ghana's Assurance Committee monitors the execution of assurances, promises and undertakings made to Parliament 10.

What to look for in a reply

  • The date of the reply, against the date of the report 2.
  • Whether each numbered recommendation gets its own answer.
  • Any target date the department gives for action.
  • Later progress reports, such as the UK Treasury Minutes progress report 6.

Common questions

What is a Treasury Minute?

It is the UK government's written response to a Public Accounts Committee report, published by HM Treasury on GOV.UK 1.

How long does the UK government have to reply to a committee?

The government has undertaken to reply within two months of publication, and ministers may ask for more time 2.

What is a Treasury Memorandum in Uganda?

It is a government paper on action taken on House resolutions on accountability committee reports, laid in the House by a finance minister 3.

Where can I see if a UK reply is late?

The Public Accounts Committee home page shows a published date or a due date for each response, and marks some as overdue 7.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email hello@parliamentfollowup.org with the official link.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK, HM Treasury: Treasury minutes collection (page checked 22 October 2026)
  2. UK Parliament: Select Committees (page checked 22 October 2026)
  3. Parliament of Uganda: Plenary summary for the week of 8 July 2019
  4. Parliament of Kenya: Committee on Implementation page (page checked 22 October 2026)
  5. Daily Graphic, as reported by Samuel Duodu and Dickson Worlanyo Dotse: Mismanagement of public funds, PAC vows value for every Cedi (20 August 2025)
  6. GOV.UK, HM Treasury: Treasury Minutes progress report, June 2026 (4 June 2026)
  7. UK Parliament: Public Accounts Committee home page (page checked 22 October 2026)
  8. Parliament of Uganda: Official Report (Hansard), 18 January 2023
  9. Parliament of Kenya: Cabinet Secretaries to appear before the House after change of rules (13 March 2023)
  10. Parliament of Ghana: Assurance Committee page (page checked 22 October 2026)

Related