There have been instances where orders of the House have not been followed for the provision of information, situations where the government was invoking cabinet confidence so as to not provide information and/or documents, or invoking national security. In these instances, the question was ultimately referred back to the House as a question of privilege.
One instance was the Afghan detainee matter, in which the Speaker, in a ruling on a question of privilege, gave some time to the parties to find a solution to resolve the matter, to allow the committee to do its work but at the same time protect the imperatives that were being raised by the government, in that case, of national security.
In another case dealing with information about public spending, the matter was referred to the House committee on House affairs so that it could consider it and make a report to the House.