Greater London Volunteering

1. February 2011 Greater London Volunteering An Introduction to the new Parliament

2. Parliamentary Outreach • 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. General Election Took place on May 6 2010 What was decided? • 650 seats in House of Commons • UK Government • What about the House of Lords?

4. General Election 2010

5. Election Results • If a single party had won over 50% of seats: -automatically form Government • However, no party received over 50% of seats: • Largest party could have formed minority Government • Two parties formed coalition Government • There could have been a re-election

6. Post Election • Coalition formed between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats • Cabinet formed • Shadow Cabinet announced • New Parliament convenes / MPs sworn in • Membership of Committees announced

7. What is Parliament? House of Commons The Monarch House of Lords

8. What does Parliament do? Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account Enables the Government to set taxes

9. What issues does Parliament cover? • Parliament debates and discusses a huge range of subjects that affect us all • Health and housing, schools and pensions, jobs and training, the way in which we choose our politicians, the way our streets are policed, laws on immigration, roads and railways, how our energy is provided – all are topics debated in Parliament • Your representative in Parliament can raise issues important to you

10. The House of Commons

11. The House of Commons • Is the democratically elected chamber of Parliament. • There are 650 MPs. • MPs are usually elected every 4 to 5 years.

12. House of Commons - What does it do? • 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.

13. The Government The Prime Minister The Cabinet

14. Government • The party, or parties, that can command a majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government • The Government runs public departments i.e. The Home Office, Benefits Agency • The Government proposes new laws to Parliament • The Government is accountable to Parliament

15. Parliament(Westminster) Government (Whitehall) • Commons, Lords, Monarch • Holds Government to account • Passes laws • Enables taxation • Represents public • Raises key issues • Approximately 110 members • MPs and Lords (Usually) • Chosen by Prime Minister • Runs public services • Accountable to Parliament

16. The Work of an MP In Parliament • Represents their constituency • Raises issues on behalf of constituents • Passes new laws • Scrutinises the work of Government • In the Constituency • Helps constituents with problems • Visits groups and individuals to hear issues/ concerns • Represents constituents to various bodies • Campaigns

17. Representing the constituency • Questions to Ministers • Adjournment/ Westminster Hall debates • Early Day Motions • Meetings with Ministers

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

19. Legislation • All UK laws decided by Parliament • Government and individual members can propose laws • However, majority of laws passed come from Government e.g. Welfare Reform Act

20. How a Bill becomes law Commons Public Bill Committee Bill presented / First Reading Second Reading Report Third Reading Committee of the Whole House Lords Bill presented / First Reading Second Reading Committee (whole House) Report Third Reading After Consideration of Lords Amendments Ping Pong Royal Assent Regulations

21. The House of Lords

22. House of Lords • The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House. • There are more than 700 Members (777 in November 2010) • Most are Life Peers, but there are also: • 92 Hereditary Peers • 26 Bishops

23. The role of the House of Lords • All Members of the House of Lords represent you • They play an important role in the passing of laws • They hold Ministers to account through questions and debates • They debate key issues

24. The Monarch • A politically neutral role • Signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent). • Opens and closes Parliament each year

25. Get involved! You can get involved through lots of different ways including: • Contacting your MP • Contacting a Member of the HoL • Sending a petition • Working with a Select Committee

26. Contacting your MP • You can contact your local MP about any issue that affects you in your constituency. • You can request that your MP asks a question, presents a petition or raises a debate on your behalf. • You can find out who your MP is on the Parliament website

27. Contacting Members of the House of Lords • 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.

28. General Advice • Local MP in first instance • Identify & contact Parliamentarians with an interest • Be clear on aims • Remember party & Government positions • Be positive and proactive

29. Questions? • Questions

30. Where can I get information? • www.parliament.uk • 020 7219 4272 – Commons information • 020 7219 3107 – Lords information