Transcript Parliamentary Outreach - British Parking Association

An introduction to
Parliament
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A service from the Houses of Parliament
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Politically neutral
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Aim is to increase knowledge and engagement
with work and processes of Parliament
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Not an alternative to MPs
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House of Commons
The
Monarch
House of Lords
Makes and passes laws
(Legislation)
Holds Government to
account
Enables the Government
to set taxes
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Is the democratically elected chamber of
Parliament.
There are 650 MPs.
MPs are usually elected every 4 to 5
years.
Fixed Term Parliaments
In the Constituency
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Helps constituents
with problems
Visits groups and
individuals to hear
issues/ concerns
Represents
constituents in
various campaigns
In Parliament
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Represents their
constituency
Raises issues on
behalf of
constituents
Passes new laws
Scrutinises the work
of Government
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The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament,
often known as the revising House.
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There are currently 831 Members (as of May 2011)
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These include:
676 Life Peers
Conservative: 170
Liberal Democrat: 88
92 Hereditary Peers
Labour: 239
Cross Bench: 152
26 Bishops
Reform of the House? – Lords Reform (Draft Bill)
17 May 2011 introduced
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Scrutinise and make legislation
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They play an important role in the passing
of laws
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Hold Ministers to account through
questions and debates
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Debate key issues at length
and in detail
Scrutinise EU legislation
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You can contact any Member about issues that
you would like Parliament to look at.
You can request that a Member asks a question
or raises a debate on your behalf.
It is useful to contact a Member who has a
particular interest in your issue. You can find out
what individual Members are interested in by
looking on the Parliament website.
The Prime Minister
The Cabinet
Westminster
Parliament
Close, but different
Whitehall
Government
Government
(Whitehall)
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Commons, Lords,
Monarch
Holds Government
to account
Passes laws
Enables taxation
Represents public
Raises key issues
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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
Conservative - 305
Labour - 253
Lib Dem - 57
DUP - 8
SNP - 6
Sinn Fein - 5
Plaid Cymru - 3
SDLP - 3
Green - 1
Alliance - 1
Independent - 4
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Questions to Ministers
Adjournment/
Westminster Hall
debates
Select Committees
Backbench Business
Committee
Commons
Public Bill
Committee
Bill presented /
First Reading
Second Reading
Third Reading
Committee of
the Whole House
Lords
Bill presented /
First Reading
Report
Second Reading
Committee
(whole House)
Report
Third Reading
After
Consideration of
Lords Amendments
Ping Pong
Royal Assent
Regulations
Can be used to:
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Obtain information – stats,
policies, positions
Press for action
Raise constituency issues
Challenge Government policy
Must have factual basis and relate to the
running of a Government Department
Immobilisation of Vehicles – 10 October 2011
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department when she expects to bring forward legislation in
respect of vehicle clamping companies; and if she will make a
statement. [72289]
Lynne Featherstone: Clause 54 of the Protection of Freedoms
Bill will make it an offence to immobilise, move or restrict the
movement of a vehicle without lawful authority. In effect this will
ban most clamping and towing by anyone other than the police,
local authorities, bailiffs and other Government agencies. Subject
to parliamentary approval, the Bill is expected to be enacted by
May 2012. Our aim is to bring the ban on wheel clamping into
force as soon as possible following Royal Assent.
Allow MPs and Members of the HoL to:
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Raise constituency issues or matters of regional,
national or international significance
Get the issue to the
attention of a relevant
minister
Get a response from
the Government
Westminster Hall debate - Motoring Fuel Costs
Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): It is a privilege to speak under your
chairmanship, Mrs Brooke. I am grateful to Mr Speaker for allowing this debate,
and I want to congratulate FairFuelUK on its campaign for British motorists and for
all the British businesses that have to buy petrol or diesel.
Let us get one thing straight: cars, vans and lorries are the lifeblood of British
industry. More than 34 million vehicles are licensed in this country, which is one
for every two people. That is why the current cost of petrol and diesel is one of the
biggest brakes on economic growth and is crucifying many families who are
struggling to keep their heads above water. That is especially true in my
constituency of Harlow, where high costs are hurting many small businesses. I
want to look at the current situation, the record profits of energy companies and
what is to be done. As The Sun newspaper said in its editorial last Saturday:
“It’s welcome news that Parliament is to investigate why petrol prices remain skyhigh even as the cost of oil plummets.
While they’re at it, they can look at why gas customers face 19 per cent rises from
a firm with annual profits of more than £1 billion.
Consumers are being fleeced from all sides when buying essentials.
It's time our MPs stood up for us.”
I am here, with my colleagues, to stand up for motorists.
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UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan – 9
September 2010
Impact of the Comprehensive Spending
Review – 4 November 2010
Future of pubs – 9 December 2010
Prisoner voting (reform) – 3 February 2011
Disclosure and publication of documents
relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster
(October 2011)
National referendum on the European Union
(October 2011)
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Questions
www.parliament.uk
020 7219 4272 – Commons information
020 7219 3107 – Lords information
Sharon Stanley – Outreach Officer
West Midlands and East of England
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07917 488842