Your Voice in Parliament - an event during European Local Democracy Week in Portsmouth Presentation by Alasdair MacKenzie

1. An Introduction
to Parliament
October 2012

2.  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

3. Conservative - 305
Labour - 253
Lib Dem - 57
DUP - 8
SNP - 6
Sinn Fein - 5
Plaid Cymru - 3
SDLP - 3
Green - 1
Respect - 1
Alliance - 1
Independent - 3
Speaker - 1
Deputy Speakers - 3

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

5. Government
(Whitehall)
• Commons, Lords, • Some MPs and some
Lords
Monarch
• Chosen by the Prime
• Holds Government Minister
to account • Runs Government
• Passes laws departments and
• Enables taxation public services
• Represents public • Accountable to
• Raises key issues Parliament

6. House of Commons
Monarch
House of Lords

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

8.  A politically neutral role
 Signs off laws passed by Parliament
(Royal Assent)
 Opens Parliament each year

10.  The democratically elected
chamber of Parliament
 There are currently
650 MPs
All MPs are elected every 5
years

12.  The House of Lords is the second chamber of
Parliament, often known as the revising
House
 There are currently 826 Members (as of
October 2011) of whom 790 are currently
eligible
 These include:
◦ 710 Life Peers
◦ 92 Hereditary Peers
◦ 24 Bishops (max. 26)

13.  Members of the House of Lords do not have
constituencies so, in theory, you can contact any
member
 There is currently no Government majority in the
House of Lords
 A large number of Cross-Benchers – independent
of political party – sit in the Lords
 Biographies of all Members of the Lords are
available at www.parliament.uk

14. In constituency In Westminster
 Helps constituents  Represents their
with problems
constituency
 Visits groups and
individuals to hear  Raises issues on
issues/ concerns behalf of constituents
 Represents  Passes new laws
constituents to
various bodies  Scrutinises the work
 Campaigns of Government

15.  Not sure who your MP is? Go to
www.parliament.uk and use “Find Your MP”
 You can also ask the House of Commons
Information Office for details on 020 7219 4272
 You can phone, e-mail or write to your MP
 Most MPs hold surgeries, where you can meet
them in person
Penny
Mordaunt, MP
for Portsmouth Mike Hancock, MP for
North Portsmouth South

17.  Questions to Ministers
 Adjournment/
Westminster Hall
debates
 Early Day Motions
 Meetings with Ministers

18. As well as questions,
debates, early-day
motions
 Select Committees
 All-Party Parliamentary
Groups
 10-Minute Rule Bill/
Private Members Bills

19.  Government and individual
members can propose laws
 All legislation proposed by the Government must
be scrutinised by both Houses of Parliament
 Members can suggest changes (“amendments”)
at particular stages
 Much of the most careful scrutiny goes on in
Committee, particularly in the House of Lords

21.  Cross-party
 Both MPs and Members of the House of Lords
 Based around common interest (e.g. Housing
and care for older people, motor neurone
disease, football) or countries of the world
 Not involved in formal decision making, but
important in developing knowledge

23.  www.parliament.uk
 Commons Information Office
020 7219 4272
 LordsInformation Office
020 7219 3107