Effective Engagement with Parliament

A service from the Houses of Parliament Politically neutral Aim is to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament Not an alternative to MPs

House of Commons House of Lords The Monarch

Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account Enables the Government to set taxes

The party or parties who can command the confidence of the House of Commons forms the Government The Government: runs public departments i.e. The Home Office, NHS proposes new laws to Parliament is accountable to Parliament

Commons, Lords, Monarch Holds Government to account Passes laws Enables taxation Represents public Raises key issues Formed by the party who can command the confidence of the Commons Some MPs and Lords Runs Government departments and public services Accountable to Parliament Government (Whitehall)

The democratically elected chamber of Parliament There are currently 650 MPs All MPs are elected at least every 5 years

 Making and passing laws  Holding the Government to account  Raising key issues  Representing constituents  Approving the Budget, public expenditure and allowing government to set taxation.

The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House. There are more than 800 Members (825 in April 2012) Most are Life Peers, but there are also: 92 Hereditary Peers 26 Bishops

They play an important role in the passing of laws They hold Ministers to account through questions and debates Many have a specialist knowledge on a wide variety of issues They debate and vote on key issues

 Local authorities have a wide range of powers and duties  National policy is set by central government, but local councils are responsible for all day-to-day services and local matters Source: direct.gov.uk

 All legislation that is implemented at a local level has to be passed by Parliament  Parliament has the power and mechanisms to scrutinise the work of local bodies  All power of local authorities is granted by Parliament – e.g. ability to levy byelaws and council tax.

 Local authorities work within the powers laid down under various Acts of Parliament  Some functions are mandatory, which means that the authority must do what is required by law  Other functions are discretionary, allowing an authority to provide services if it wishes. Source: direct.gov.uk

The Seven Influencing Options  Parliamentary Questions  Parliamentary Debates  Select Committees  Early Day Motions  Public Bill Committees  Petitions  All-Party Parliamentary Groups

What issue would you like to be raised with Parliament?

 All UK laws decided by Parliament  Government and individual members can propose laws.  Individuals push Private Member’s Bills (Michael Foster MP introduced Fox Hunting Ban in 1997, graduated to Government Bill in 2004)  However, majority of laws passed come from Government

Ways to influence draft legislation:  Green Papers  White Papers  Pre-legislative Committees  Public Bill Committees  MPs and Members of the House of Lords

 Appointed for each Public Bill that goes through Parliament  Take written and oral evidence from experts outside Parliament  Examine Bills clause by clause  Members of the Committee can ask for changes by tabling amendments  Reports its findings to the main Chamber

 Two types – written and oral  Can be used to: ◦ Obtain information ◦ Press for action

Parliamentary Questions  What can be achieved  The right person to ask  How to ask the right question

Exercise Write down the questions that you would like an MP to raise in Parliament.

 Adjournment Debate - House of Commons  Questions for Short Debate - House of Lords Allows MPs and Members of the House of Lords to:  Raise constituency issues (MPs only) or matters of regional, national or international significance  Get the issue to the attention of a relevant Minister  Get a response from the Government

 Set up to scrutinise specific areas of work and Government departments  Work carried out through public inquiries  Groups and individuals submit evidence to enquiries  Inquiry report created and passed to Government department

 Allows MPs to show their opinion on a particular subject  Can be used to: ◦ Draw attention to an issue ◦ Call for action ◦ Commemorate, congratulate, condemn

 That this house....  Short title  One sentence 250 words maximum.  Remember you want to get other MPs to sign and support this.

 Cross-party  Both MPs and Members of the House of Lords  Based around common interest  Not involved in formal decision making, but important in developing knowledge

 A process where individuals or groups can appeal to Parliament through their MP  It must consist of at least one name and address and be set out in the correct format  The MP will present the petition to the House of Commons  The petition will be published in Hansard and sent to the relevant Government department

  – Commons information  – Lords information