Practical Workshop on Engaging MPs Mike Kaye (Still Human Still Here) Eiri Ohtani (Detention Forum)

Contacting and engaging MPs You can find all your elected representatives (MP, MEPs & Councillors by typing in your postcode at: You can find all your elected representatives (MP, MEPs & Councillors by typing in your postcode at: You can also find your MP by typing in your post code at: You can also find your MP by typing in your post code at: You can write to your MP to request a meeting or go to their constituency surgery. You can write to your MP to request a meeting or go to their constituency surgery. Research your MPs interests and what positions they hold in Parliament. The basic information is at: offices/mps/ Research your MPs interests and what positions they hold in Parliament. The basic information is at: offices/mps/ offices/mps/ offices/mps/

Preparing for meetings – do your research Reliable evidence and good analysis are essential to support advocacy positions and to counter arguments and assumptions. However, facts do not speak for themselves, they need to be communicated in a language that your representitve will respond to. Presentation is therefore key to success. Consider the issue from their perspective. Linking your objective to one of their existing priorities or areas of interest will make it relevant to them. Place your objective within the existing policy framework wherever possible and try to present it as consistent with their established policy positions. Think about their concerns and how to address them.

Preparing for meetings – do your research Don’t ask for the impossible, but for things that the relevant decision-maker can do; Don’t ask for the impossible, but for things that the relevant decision-maker can do; Know when you are being presented with an excuse or a genuine problem which makes it difficult to implement your proposal; Know when you are being presented with an excuse or a genuine problem which makes it difficult to implement your proposal; Establish credibilty with the decision-maker; Establish credibilty with the decision-maker; Even if your MP doesn’t agree with you they can still advocate for you and help you gain access to information that you may need (Government plans, statistics, budgets, forthcoming legislation, etc.). Even if your MP doesn’t agree with you they can still advocate for you and help you gain access to information that you may need (Government plans, statistics, budgets, forthcoming legislation, etc.).

Making the case to decision makers Communicate the benefit of pursuing your proposed policy (prestige, budgetary savings, avoiding political embarassment, simplicity, efficiency, etc.). Communicate the benefit of pursuing your proposed policy (prestige, budgetary savings, avoiding political embarassment, simplicity, efficiency, etc.). Be polite, but do not be intimidated. Remember that if you’ve done your research you are likely to know more than they do. Be polite, but do not be intimidated. Remember that if you’ve done your research you are likely to know more than they do. Let them speak so you know what they think. Let them speak so you know what they think. Be ready to answer direct questions, such as: How much will this cost? Who else supports this proposal? What do you want me to do? Be ready to answer direct questions, such as: How much will this cost? Who else supports this proposal? What do you want me to do?

What can MPs do - legislation First Reading – Bill is printed and name read. First Reading – Bill is printed and name read. Second Reading – Debate in Commons on general principles of Bill Second Reading – Debate in Commons on general principles of Bill Committee Stage – detailed consideration of Bill and amendments in Standing Committee Committee Stage – detailed consideration of Bill and amendments in Standing Committee Report – Further debate and amendments Report – Further debate and amendments Third Reading – final debate and vote on Bill Third Reading – final debate and vote on Bill Stages repeated in the House of Lords and then returns to the Commons. After approval it goes for Royal Assent and becomes an Act. Stages repeated in the House of Lords and then returns to the Commons. After approval it goes for Royal Assent and becomes an Act.

What can MPs do? Parliamentarians can: Sponsor or support amendments to a Bill (most effectively in Standing Committee) Sponsor or support amendments to a Bill (most effectively in Standing Committee) Still Human drafted an amendment to the 2009 Health Bill which would grant refused asylum seekers' access to free secondary healthcare ( ) and lobbied members of the House of Lords to table it at Committee stage Still Human drafted an amendment to the 2009 Health Bill which would grant refused asylum seekers' access to free secondary healthcare ( ) and lobbied members of the House of Lords to table it at Committee stage

What can MPs do? Raise an issue with the Minister – private and personal Raise an issue with the Minister – private and personal Lobby internally for changes to their own parties policies or priorities Lobby internally for changes to their own parties policies or priorities Put down a Parliamentary Question, written or oral, or a PMQ – indicates concern, can educate or obtain information. Must be a question not a statement Put down a Parliamentary Question, written or oral, or a PMQ – indicates concern, can educate or obtain information. Must be a question not a statement

Parliamentary questions Asylum: Females 22 July 2014 : Column 1100W Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of women who have been detained pending their asylum claims were subsequently granted asylum in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [204427] James Brokenshire: The data in the following table refers to main, female claimants who have raised a claim for asylum and been detained in the financial year , and , and who have been detained either on or after the day that a claim for asylum was raised. Claimants who have had more than one period of detention are recorded under the latest period of detention. Year of detention (financial year)Percentage of grants

Parliamentary questions Vaz, K - Patients (Illegal Immigrants) Mon, 27 February 2012 Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to GPs and doctors on registering illegal immigrants.[95867] Mr Simon Burns: There is no specific guidance regarding illegal immigrants. A person's immigration status has no bearing on their eligibility to access primary care. General practitioner (GP) contractors are self-employed and are contracted through primary care trusts to provide services for the national health service. Under the terms of those contracts, GPs have a measure of discretion as to who they register as an NHS patient but they cannot turn down an applicant on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition. On 18 March 2011, the Government announced a proposed review regarding charging foreign nationals for NHS services. This will include whether GP or other NHS services outside of hospitals should be charged for. The review will be thorough and consultative, and will take full account of NHS values, public health needs and humanitarian obligations. We expect that developed proposals will be ready for further consultation this year.

What can MPs do? Sponsor or sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) – provides a test of backbench support and list of interested MPs. Sponsor or sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) – provides a test of backbench support and list of interested MPs. Huge number are tabled each session, many dismiss this procedure and either cannot or will not sign. Huge number are tabled each session, many dismiss this procedure and either cannot or will not sign.

Early day motion 99 HIGH COURT JUDGMENT ON ASYLUM SUPPORT Session: Date tabled: Primary sponsor: Pearce, TeresaPearce, Teresa Sponsors: Teather, Sarah Stunell, Andrew Bottomley, Peter Durkan, Mark Ritchie, Margaret That this House notes the High Court judgment of 9 April 2014 (Refugee Action v Secretary of State for the Home Department) which states that the Government's assessment of the amount needed by asylum seekers to meet their essential living needs is flawed and further notes the Government's decision not to appeal this ruling; is concerned as stated in the judgment, that asylum support rates have not been increased since April 2011 and that the majority of those on asylum support receive just £5.23 a day to pay for essentials such as food, clothing and toiletries; further notes that asylum seekers spend an average of 18 months on this support and are almost never allowed to work; believes this is detrimental to the well-being of refugees including children; is particularly concerned that children aged 16 and 17 years are treated as adults for the purposes of asylum support making it difficult to participate fully in education; and calls on the Government to raise asylum support rates to at least 70 per cent of income support - the equivalent of £7.17 a day for most adult asylum seekers - and to increase this in line with inflation annually. Total number of signatures: 66

What can MPs do? Raise issue during appropriate debates or put down for an Adjournment debate (balloted each week) Raise issue during appropriate debates or put down for an Adjournment debate (balloted each week) Take up issue via Select Committees (Home Affairs, Joint Committee on Human Rights Foreign Affairs, International Development,) Take up issue via Select Committees (Home Affairs, Joint Committee on Human Rights Foreign Affairs, International Development,) All Party Parliamentary Groups (country or subject groups, human rights, trafficking, overseas development, HIV/AIDs, refugees, etc.) All Party Parliamentary Groups (country or subject groups, human rights, trafficking, overseas development, HIV/AIDs, refugees, etc.) Table a Private Members’ Bill (around 20 a session) Table a Private Members’ Bill (around 20 a session) Host a meeting in Parliament or elsewhere Host a meeting in Parliament or elsewhere

What can Councillors do? Councillors are elected for four years and can be contacted in the same way as MPs. Councillors are elected for four years and can be contacted in the same way as MPs. They take decisions on local issues like housing, transport and education They take decisions on local issues like housing, transport and education They can raise issues at Council, including by putting forward motions for discussion. For example, 11 Councils have passed motions against the destitution of asylum seekers. They can raise issues at Council, including by putting forward motions for discussion. For example, 11 Councils have passed motions against the destitution of asylum seekers.

Key points summary Identify your MP and prepare your arguments. You should be able to outline: What the problem is and why it is urgent; What the problem is and why it is urgent; What the solution is and what the benefits of the solution are; What the solution is and what the benefits of the solution are; What you want the decision maker to do. What you want the decision maker to do.