Motion for a Return (Humble Address) - 4 February 2026

Some readers will doubtless recall that in 2017 the House of Commons wished to have sight of "Sectoral Impact Assessments" prepared by the government in connection with the process of the UK leaving the European Union (EU) - previous post 1 November 2017.

An Opposition Motion was put forward by Sir Keir Starmer MP - 

"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That she will be graciously pleased to give directions that the list of sectors analysed under the instruction of Her Majesty's Ministers, and referred to in the Answer of 26 June 2017 to Question 239, be laid before this House and that the impact assessments arising from those analyses be provided to the Committee on Exiting the European Union."

On Wednesday 4 February 2026, an Opposition Motion - (this time by the Conservative Party) - sought a further Humble Address so that the House could see all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America.

Hansard informs us that the following was resolved - 

 

The fact that paper prejudicial to UK national security or international relations are to be referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee is of particular interest. The government therefore does not have the final say on what papers are to be disclosed.

House of Common Library - Research Briefings - Motion for a Return (Humble Address)  - Each House of Parliament has the power to call for the production of papers by means of a “motion for a return”, which is also referred to as a “humble address”.